Europe is the fastest warming continent on the planet, with temperatures rising at around twice the global average, putting increasing pressure on health systems, social care services and communities already facing more frequent and intense heatwaves.
Data from five countries already shows it almost 10,000 additional deaths related to the extreme heat of this summer.
The heat is on
The WHO described extreme heat as an urgent and growing threat to public health This is expected to affect more each year. It is driven by climate change and worsened by urbanization and an aging population, rapidly increasing illness and death.
“Our region is the fastest warming in the world. In the last four years alone, the heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives.while heat-related mortality has increased by 30 percent in the last 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: warn communities early, cool cities, ensure access to water and shade, monitor those most at risk, and prepare health systems before temperatures peak.”
An oncologist consults with a cancer patient at a hospital in Lyon, France. (archive)
Hospitals feel the heat
The new guidance will help countries strengthen Heat and Health Action Plans (HHAP), which connect climate alerts with public health measures, such as outreach to those most at risk, cooling spaces, hospital surge planning, and clear advice to the public.
WHO underlined the need to build resilient health facilities. Heat waves can overwhelm hospitals that may not be designed to cope with higher temperatures, especially as admissions increase.
This is particularly the case in cities, where urbanized areas trap heat and remain warmer than surrounding rural or suburban areas.
Hospital buildings can overheat, causing failures in power supplies, cooling systems, as well as computers and technology services. Additionally, both staff and patients can become stressed and exhausted due to the heat.
Romania’s cool hospital
In Romania, the Buhuși hospital is adapting to meet the challenge.
The installation has established a Designated cool space for people suffering from heat stroke.providing cold water and trained medical personnel to detect the early signs of heat exhaustion. Officials have also requested funding to install a high-efficiency cooling system throughout the building.
Evaluation, investment and preparation.
WHO supports these efforts across Europe through its Hospital Safety Initiative, which uses the Hospital Safety Index to assess whether healthcare facilities are likely to continue operating during emergencies.
The index was traditionally used for hazards such as earthquakes and floods, but increasingly helps 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 offers another example of how heat and health action plans can guide the response.
The UK Health and Severe Weather Plan uses a colour-coded alert system, developed with the national Met Office, linking each alert level with practical actions for health services, local authorities, community groups and the public.
In May, authorities issued amber alerts in anticipation of record temperatures of 35.1 degrees Celsius. Red alerts were issued the following month, when parts of the country reached record temperatures of up to 37.7°C.
New orientation
WHO first published a comprehensive guideline 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 most at risk, communication, health system resilience, heat exposure reduction, surveillance and monitoring, assessment and learning.
It also contains five user action summaries for key sectors and a bank of public health messages with practical steps people can take to protect themselves and others.
