Europe is the fastest-warming continent on the planet, with temperatures rising to around twice the global average, putting increasing pressure on health systems, social services and communities already facing more frequent and intense heat waves.
Data from five countries already shows almost 10,000 excess deaths linked to the extreme heat this summer.
The heat is on
WHO described extreme heat as an urgent and growing threat to public health which is expected to hit harder every year. It is driven by climate change and exacerbated by urbanization and population ageing, rapidly increasing disease and death.
“Our region is the fastest warming region globally. In the past four years alone, heat has claimed more than 200,000 human liveswhile heat-related mortality has increased by 30 percent over the past 20 years,” says Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
He stressed that “heat deaths are not inevitable” because “we know how to protect people: warn communities early, make cities cooler, ensure access to water and shade, monitor those most at risk and prepare health systems before temperatures peak.”
An oncologist consults a cancer patient at a hospital in Lyon, France. (file)
Hospitals are feeling the heat
The new guidance will help countries strengthen Heat-Health Action Plans (HHAPs), which link weather alerts to public health measures such as outreach to people most at risk, cold rooms, surge planning in hospitals and clear advice to the public.
WHO emphasized the need to build robust 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 countryside or suburbs.
Hospital buildings can overheat, causing power supplies, cooling systems, and computers and technical services to fail. In addition, staff as well as patients can become stressed and burn out due to the heat.
Romania’s ‘cool’ hospital
In Romania, Buhuși Hospital is adapting to meet the challenge.
The facility has established a designated cool room for people suffering from heat strokeproviding cool water and medical personnel trained to detect the early signs of heat exhaustion. The authorities have also applied for funding to install a high-efficiency cooling system throughout the building.
Assessment, investment and preparedness
WHO supports such efforts across Europe through its Hospital Safety Initiative, which uses the Hospital Safety Index to assess whether health facilities are likely to remain operational in emergencies.
The index was traditionally used for hazards such as earthquakes and floods, but 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 United Kingdom 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 warning system, developed with the national Met Office, which links each alert level to actionable actions for health services, local authorities, community groups and the public.
In May, officials issued amber alerts in anticipation of record high temperatures of 35.1 degrees Celsius. Red warnings were issued the following month as parts of the country reached unprecedented temperatures of up to 37.7°C.
New guidance
WHO first published comprehensive guidance on HHAPs in 2008.
The new guidance sets out eight core elements for countries and local authorities, namely governance, heat warning systems, protection of populations at increased risk, communication, health system resilience, heat exposure reduction, monitoring and surveillance, evaluation and learning.
It also includes five user action briefs for key sectors and a public health message bank of practical steps people can take to protect themselves and others.
