TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity, the University of Arizona’s Women & Gender Student Space and the College of Public Health Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health will give away sexual and reproductive health emergency preparedness kits on the University of Arizona campus on Friday, March 6.

The free kits are being distributed to highlight the importance of preparing for sexual and reproductive health disruptions during extreme weather events. Each kit includes condoms, emergency contraception, period products, pregnancy tests and lubricant.

“Flash floods and wildfires can make it impossible to access family planning and period supplies, but most people leave these items out of their emergency preparedness kits,” said Kelley Dennings, a campaigner at the Center. “The kits help make sure people won’t have to scramble to care for their sexual health during climate-fueled severe weather emergencies.”

What: Sexual health emergency preparedness kit giveaway

Who: The Center for Biological Diversity, the University of Arizona’s Women & Gender Student Space and the College of Public Health Southwest Center on Resilience for Climate Change and Health.

When: Friday, March 6, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: University of Arizona main campus, just east of Old Main on the Main Mall, Tucson, Ariz.

Background

Extreme weather events can disrupt services and limit access to abortions, birth control and menstrual hygiene products. This increases the risk of unintended pregnancy and can make it harder for vulnerable people to recover from the event.

The climate crisis harms us all but has a disproportionate impact on women and gender diverse people. Their voices are often left out of climate and emergency preparedness plans, even as climate-fueled severe weather events become more frequent because of human-caused climate change. Sexual health emergency preparedness kits are designed to fill this gap, as well as highlight the need for people and communities to consider these kinds of items in their own emergency preparations.