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Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, with temperatures rising at around twice the global average. This places increasing pressure on health systems, social services and communities that are already facing more frequent and intense heatwaves.
Data from five countries already shows this nearly 10,000 excess deaths related to the extreme heat this summer.
The heat is on
WHO describes extreme heat as an urgent and growing public health threat which is expected to get worse every year. This is caused by climate change and exacerbated by urbanization and population aging, so that disease and death are increasing rapidly.
“Our region is the region experiencing the fastest warming globally. In the last four years alone, heat has claimed more than 200,000 liveswhile heat-related death rates have increased by 30 percent over the past 20 years,” said Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
He stressed that “heat deaths are inevitable” because “we know how to protect society: warning people early, keeping cities cooler, ensuring access to water and shelter, screening those most at risk and preparing health systems before temperatures reach their peak.”
An oncologist consults with a cancer patient at a hospital in Lyon, France. (submit)
The hospital is feeling the heat
That new guidance will help countries to strengthen Heat-Health Action Plans (HHAPs), which link weather warnings to public health measures such as outreach to people most at risk, cooling space, hospital surge planning, and clear advice to the public.
WHO underlines the need to build resilient health facilities. Heat waves can overwhelm hospitals that may not be designed to deal with higher temperatures, especially as the number of hospital admissions increases.
This is especially true in urban areas, where built-up areas trap heat and remain warmer than surrounding rural or suburban areas.
Hospital buildings can overheat, causing power supplies, cooling systems and computers and technology services to malfunction. In addition, staff and patients can become stressed and exhausted by the heat.
Romania’s ‘cool’ hospital
In Romania, Buhuși Hospital adapted to meet this challenge.
This facility has established a a cool place intended for people suffering from heatstrokeproviding cool water and medical staff trained to recognize early signs of heat exhaustion. The authority has also applied for funding to install a high-efficiency cooling system throughout the building.
Assessment, investment and readiness
WHO is supporting such efforts across Europe through its Hospital Safety Initiative which uses the Hospital Safety Index to assess whether health facilities will remain operational during an emergency.
The index is typically used to measure hazards such as earthquakes and floods, but is now increasingly helping countries identify climate and weather risks, including extreme temperatures.
Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Poland and Ukraine have conducted assessments and training with WHO support in recent years, helping authorities prioritize investments and improve preparedness.
The British took action
The UK provides another example of how the Heat-Health Action Plan can guide the response.
The UK’s Severe Weather and Health Plan uses a colour-coded warning system, developed in conjunction with the national Met Office, which links each warning level with practical actions for health services, local authorities, community groups and the public.
In May, officials issued a yellow alert in anticipation of a record-breaking temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius. A red alert was issued the following month, when parts of the country reached unprecedented temperatures of 37.7°C.
New guide
WHO first published comprehensive guidance on HHAP in 2008.
That new guidance establishes eight core elements for state and local authorities, namely governance, heat warning systems, protection of high-risk populations, communication, health system resilience, reduction of heat exposure, surveillance and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
The guide also contains five user action summaries for key sectors and a public health message bank with practical steps people can take to protect themselves and others.
