Although the outrageous effects of climate change had undeniably killed more than millions of people in the past directly or indirectly, it is the first time when a patient rather than being diagnosed with a known disease is deduced to be suffering from a strange “Climate Change”.
The statement was made by the head of Kootenay Lake Hospital’s emergency room (ER) department Dr Kyle Merritt when he examined the 70-year-old woman withstanding the respiratory problems aggravated by climate change.
The cases of Lung Infections and Heat Strokes have increased to a great extent in the last 2 decades all across the globe and the leading reason behind them is massive urbanization and global warming which has distorted the natural environment. As per the reports issued by Global Climate Risk Index 2020, Countries like Germany, India, Japan followed by Canada are amongst the worst affected countries by Climate Change. Canada is heating at twice the rate when compared to other nations.
The old woman is a resident of British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada. This year, the coast suffered an ultimate upswing in temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius than usual. Moreover, the rise in weather ignited more than 300 wildfires in the areas of British Columbia. As a consequence, numerous lives were lost and various people underwent critical health conditions.
The heat waves intensified the number of patients with heat convulsions and one of the victims of Heat Stroke was this 70-year-old lady which Dr Merritt analyzed. While discussing the patient’s ailment he said, “She has diabetes. She has some heart failure. She lives in a trailer with no air conditioning. All of her health problems have worsened and she is struggling to stay hydrated.”
Furthermore, the consultant diagnosed her illness with “Climate Change” by expressing that it is his first time employing this term as a prognosis in 10 years. When inquired about the unusual diagnosis, Dr Kyle Merritt answered, “If we’re not looking at the underlying cause, and we’re just treating the symptoms, we’re just gonna keep falling further and further behind.”
The message delivered by Dr Kyle Merritt through his speech can open the eyes of those leaders who believe that climate alteration is nothing but propaganda. In context with the decisive heatwave, wildfires, and terrible air pollution of British Columbia, Canada, he exclaimed.
“It’s me trying to just process what I’m seeing. We’re in the emergency department, we look after everybody, from the most privileged to the most vulnerable, from cradle to grave, we see everybody. And it’s hard to see people, especially the most vulnerable people in our society, being affected. It’s frustrating” indicating the convergence of the above-mentioned situation provoking the chaos in the community of British Columbia.
The unique diagnosis proceeded to make headlines as soon as it surfaced on the internet, claiming it as the prime cause of “climate change” in history with the possibility that there will be surplus cases of the newly developed condition soon.
To conclude, it is now crucial to take adequate measures and proper strategies to protect the environment from further damages caused by distinct factors like greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel burning, global warming, etc. as this is now or never situation and ensure the well-being of public health in the longer-term.
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