How to protect kids during water shortages

Every year, droughts affect millions of people around the world, including children. Drought conditions can have far-reaching effects on families and communities, impacting water supplies, food production, air quality and overall health.

A drought happens when there is not enough rain or snow for a long time. This can make both the ground and lakes dry up. In the last 20 years, droughts have happened more often because the weather patterns are changing, partly because of climate change. El Niño and La Niña are weather patterns that can also cause less rain and warmer weather in some places. Droughts do not happen quickly and can last for weeks, months or even years. To end a drought, there needs to be large amounts of rain over an extended period of time.

The effects of drought conditions on children can be especially serious because their growing bodies need steady access to water and other essential resources. The good news is that there are things families can do to get ready for and keep children safe during droughts.

Everyone needs clean, safe water to live, especially kids. That’s because they can get sicker faster than adults. Droughts can really harm people’s bodies and minds, and can also affect water safety, food production, and the economy and livelihood of communities.

Droughts can cause health problems in different ways. They can lead to dehydration, which means the body doesn’t have enough water to function properly. The risk of dehydration is even higher if the drought is related to extreme heat.Mild dehydration causes tiredness, headaches and dizziness. Severe dehydration is very dangerous and can cause confusion, seizures, kidney damage and even death. This is even worse in hot weather, during pregnancy and for infants, young children and young athletes.

Water quality also decreases during droughts. When there is less water, germs and harmful chemicals become more concentrated in what water is left, and treatment plants can get overwhelmed. Also, when water pipes lose pressure, dirty water and sewage can leak in. So, the water that reaches homes can carry germs that make people sick.

To stay safe when water quality is a concern, make sure to use safe water for drinking and beverages, food preparation and cooking, ice making, face washing and toothbrushing, and to prepare infant formula.

It’s important to always follow the advice of the health and water authorities when there is a risk of contaminated, unsafe water. Depending on the circumstances, they may advise people to boil the water or disinfect it by adding a specific amount of household bleach to a specific amount of water, or to avoid tap water from the faucet altogether. You can also filter water for additional safety. Keep in mind that many water filters do not remove all bacteria and viruses. Even if you use a filter, you may still need to boil or disinfect the water before using it.

If you have a water cistern (large container used to store drinking water), make sure to follow the recommendations on its correct use and maintenance. This will depend on the type of cistern.

Low water levels due to droughts impact hygiene access too. Washing hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to stop germs from spreading, but less water means less hand-washing. When water is scarce, people are forced to skip bathing, washing clothes, cleaning their homes and washing dishes. Hygiene and sanitation challenges lead to increased risk for food contamination and the spread of germs that can cause diseases, like diarrhea, along with skin, eye and respiratory infections. Children with chronic diseases are even at higher risk for infections during droughts.

To minimise the impacts on hygiene during a drought, wash hands with water and soap the correct way, especially before cooking and eating. Help children use the hand sanitiser and keep it away from younger children’s reach. Maintain adequate toothbrushing and oral hygiene even with very little or no water.

Unsafe water and mosquitoes can spread further illness. When clean water runs low, people may drink water that is not safe. Or, they may store water in containers that can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Contaminated water can have germs in it that make people sick with diseases like diarrhea and leptospirosis. Mosquitoes, depending on the US region, can carry diseases such as dengue and West Nile encephalitis.