Introduction
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is the biggest threat to human health, and air pollution is the leading environmental risk. In the UK, air pollution causes up to 43,000 deaths every year, and 1 in 4 people live in areas where pollution is more than twice the upper limit of the WHO limits – often in urban and deprived communities, disproportionately affecting Black and Asian communities.
Babies and children are especially vulnerable: they breathe faster, have smaller airways, and are closer to car exhaust levels—meaning they inhale more harmful pollutants.
We all have an important role in raising awareness and reducing the impact of air pollution.
Resources to support practice
To help raise awareness of the impact of air pollution on health, particularly for babies and children under five-years-old, we have developed a range of resources to support your practice.
Air pollution animation
A short animation for both professionals and families, which covers:
- what air pollution is
- its effect on the health of babies and children
- the difference between indoor and outdoor air pollution
- top tips to mitigate the effects of air pollution
Air pollution infographic factsheet
This factsheet is a visual way to share and discuss air pollution.
It can also be used as a conversation starter with families. For example, in a visit you can ask “has anyone talked to you about air pollution?” or “do you worry about air pollution?” and then talk through the factsheet.
Air pollution podcast
To help raise awareness – listen to our podcast with renowned environmental campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE and share it with others.
In the podcast, Rosamund discusses the tragic death of her 9-year-old daughter, Ella – which was the first death in the UK air pollution listed as the cause of death. Rosamund explains the impact this had on her and how she now works to raise awareness of the preventable harms of air pollution.
In this informative podcast, Rosamund is in conversation with Victoria Jackson from the iHV sharing:
- A reminder that, first and foremost, Ella was a person. Rosamund wants Ella to be remembered as a ‘funny’, ‘caring’, ‘bright’ and ‘happy’ little girl – and shares that ‘our house will forever be quieter since she left it’.
- Rosamund’s personal journey as a mother and the challenges she faced navigating treatments for Ella.
- The urgent need to tackle air pollution and its impact on health, including in utero. The important reminder that ‘air and water have no borders’ and the need for a cohesive approach.
- The critical role that health visitors can play in advocating for cleaner, healthier environments for families. The importance of educating families and building relationships to make informed decisions.
This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who believes that every child deserves the right to breathe clean air.
To listen to this podcast, click on the arrow in the image below or on the link below:
Report
We would like to thank The Burdett Trust for Nursing who funded this work. If you would like to know more about this work and the innovation project that Burdett funded, then please read our “Final Project Report: HEALTH VISITING RESPIRATORY HEALTH AMBASSADORS – leading prevention and early intervention for respiratory disease in babies and very young children”.
For more information
If you would like to develop your knowledge further, please contact the iHV Learning and Development Department to enquire about our future Respiratory Health Ambassadors Training.
