It is important to have access to healthy water. Our body is two third of water, brain is made of 95%, blood is 82% and the lungs is 90%. If a child or adult is exposed to unclean water it will affect their immune system. There are parasites that can live in water that will attack your immune system. If children are behind on immunization it will be very hard to fight of the parasites. There are certain agents that are intentionally put in the water that may also affect us and our children in good and bad ways. Clorite can cause infant and young children to suffer from anemia and damage the nervous system, lead can cause delay in physical and mental development and Nitrate or Nitrite can cause an infant to six month old child to die or suffer a serious illness. All three of these can be found in what they call clean water.
Even though there are more resources of clean water in America, there are still areas in our country that use wells, ponds and springs to get their water. As parents and educators, we need to provide our children with proper nutrition, immunization, safe healthy environment and love because there are so many things that can affect us that were are not aware of. Our children need a fighting chance.
Haiti
After two years Haiti and the American Red Cross is still trying to rebuild their country after the earthquake disaster. Haiti is still working hard to provide housing, water and sanitation units for a half million people who are still living in tent community’s camps. 660,000 gallons of clean water is being delivered daily for drinking, cooking and bathing in these camps by trucks. Even with their efforts to provide clean water, children and their families was still exposed to a break out of cholera. Cholera is an infection in the small intestines. The infection is transmitted through the consumption of feces contaminated water and food. The break out is now under control.
Haiti’s was already considers one of the poorest country. Before that earthquake, people earned 2 dollars a day and only half of the people had previous access to clean water. Most likely the presents of disease were already spreading but it was addressed until volunteer doctors and nurses came.
Some of the communities are now using community-managed water kiosts in neighborhoods that are still not connected to piped water supply. Millions of dollars are being spent on just supplying clean water. Children are presented with a greater access to clean healthy water and housing. Even though the earthquake presented a great disaster, it’s clean up efforts has improved the living conditions of the children and their families.
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers
American Red Cross, Retrieved Jan. 13, 2011 fromhttp://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=f326d3db31b36210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
APEC Water, How do Water contaminants relate to health effects? Retrived Jan. 13, 2012 from http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-contaminants-health-effects.htm
Hi Katrice,
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible that in the 21st century yet many countries suffer from not having enough clean drinking water for families and children. As you explain, the water is one of the most important things for human beings to be healthy and survive. It is pitiful that Haiti after 2 years of the earthquake has not been able to recover. Also, Haiti citizens continue to suffer from a lack of basic things such as clean water, food and medicine.
Katrice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this information and for explaining in detail what can happen to the body in the absence of sanitary water. We certainly do take water for granted up here surrounded by the Great Lakes. A greater appreciation of our natural resources may make us more sensitive to the world's needs. It is amazing how shortly after the news cameras stop rolling, we assume that things are okay in areas of natural disaster. We found the same when we took a group of teens down to serve in Miami area a full two years after hurricane Andrew. One family was still living in a small camper next to a house that had gaping holes in the roof. I appreciate this reminder.
Katrice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding us of how blessed we are to have healthy water to drink and bathe in, as a country that has so many resources available, we still have Americans that suffer without having clean water. Great information, thanks for sharing.
Katrice,
ReplyDeleteI second what Kristina stated. Thank you for reminding us how blessed and lucky we are to live in a place where we do not have to worry about the drinking water. Although the earthquake was a very tragic and sad event, based on the information you provided it sounds like the clean up and rebuilding efforts are making it a much cleaner and safer place to live. Thank you for sharing this information with us.