Europe is the fastest warming continent on the planet, with temperatures rising about twice the global average, putting increasing pressure on health systems, social services and communities already facing more frequent and intense heatwaves.
Data from five countries already shows nearly 10,000 additional deaths linked to the intense heat of this summer.
The heat is on
The WHO has described extreme heat as an urgent and growing threat to public health it should hit harder every year. It is driven by climate change and worsened by urbanization and an aging population, which are leading to rapid increases in disease and death.
“Our region is the fastest warming region in the world. In the last four years alone, heat has claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people.while heat-related mortality has increased by 30 percent over the past 20 years,” said Dr Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.
He stressed that “heat deaths are not inevitable” because “we know how to protect people: warning communities early, making cities cooler, ensuring access to water and shade, monitoring those most at risk, and preparing health systems before temperatures peak.”
An oncologist consults a cancer patient at a hospital in Lyon, France. (deposit)
Hospitals are feeling the heat
The new guidance will help countries strengthen heat-health action plans (HHAPs), which link weather warnings to public health measures such as outreach to those most at risk, cooling spaces, surge planning in hospitals, and clear advice to the public.
WHO has highlighted the need to build resilient health facilities. Heat waves can overwhelm hospitals that may not be designed to handle higher temperatures, especially when admissions increase.
This is particularly the case in cities, 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 technical services to fail. Additionally, staff as well as patients can become stressed and exhausted due to the heat.
The “cool” hospital in Romania
In Romania, Buhuși Hospital is adapting to meet the challenge.
The establishment has implemented a designated cool space for people suffering from heatstrokeproviding fresh water and medical staff trained to detect early signs of heat exhaustion. Officials also requested funding to install a high-efficiency cooling system throughout the building.
Assessment, investment and preparation
WHO is supporting such efforts across Europe through its Safe Hospitals Initiative, which uses the Hospital Safety Index to assess whether health facilities are likely to remain operational in an emergency.
The index was traditionally used for risks such as earthquakes and floods, but it is 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.
UK takes action
The UK provides another example of how heat-health action plans can guide the response.
The UK’s Adverse Weather and Health Plan uses a colour-coded alert system, developed with the national Met Office, which links each alert level to practical actions for health services, local authorities, community groups and the public.
In May, authorities issued orange alerts in anticipation of record temperatures of 35.1 degrees Celsius. Red alerts were issued the following month, when parts of the country reached unprecedented temperatures of up to 37.7°C.
New guidelines
WHO first published comprehensive guidelines on HHAP in 2008.
The new guidance sets out eight essential elements for countries and local authorities, namely governance, heat alert systems, protection of populations at increased risk, communication, health system resilience, reduction of heat exposure, surveillance, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
It also contains five user action sheets for key sectors and a bank of public health messages presenting practical steps people can take to protect themselves and others.
