Without preparation the heat can be deadly

Statement by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge

Copenhagen, 18 July 2023

As much of the WHO European Region suffers under sweltering heat, we need to remember that without preparation the heat can be deadly. We can take immediate steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones, even as longer-term measures are urgently needed for our Region and our world.

New estimates recently released by the scientific journal Nature found that last year alone, more than 60,000 people in Europe died because of extreme heat – three times more than earlier estimated – and as our planet continues to warm, this number is set to rise year on year.

As we adapt to this new normal, with its devastating effects on health and well-being, it’s vital we are all armed with knowledge that could help save lives.

How to protect yourself and others

For millions of people living and working through heatwaves, especially in southern and eastern Europe at this time, and for many who are travelling on holidays, please regularly check weather reports, follow local guidance, and inform yourself about weather-related health risks from reputable sources.

It is important to keep as cool as possible, to avoid the worst health effects of heat by following the simple, practical advice from WHO/Europe’s #KeepCool campaign:

• Keep out of the heat. Avoid going out and doing strenuous activity during the hottest time of day. Stay in the shade, do not leave children or animals in parked vehicles, and if necessary and possible, spend at least 2–3 hours of the day in a cool place.
• Keep your home cool. Use the night air to cool down your home. Reduce the heat load indoors during the day by using blinds or shutters and turning off as many electrical devices as possible.
• Keep your body cool and hydrated. Use light and loose-fitting clothing and light bed linen, take cool showers or baths, and drink water regularly, while avoiding sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.

It is important to take care of yourself, and to check on family, friends and neighbours who spend much of their time alone. Vulnerable people might need assistance on hot days. If anyone you know is at risk, help them to get advice and support.

If you or others feel unwell – dizzy, weak, intensely thirsty or have a headache – seek help. Move to a cool place as soon as possible, drink water to rehydrate, and measure body temperature for at least 30 minutes. If body temperature remains high, consult a health expert. If body temperature falls and the individual feels better after resting in a cool environment, it is probably related to heat stress.

If you have painful muscular spasms, rest immediately in a cool place and drink oral rehydration solutions containing electrolytes. Seek help if heat cramps last more than an hour. Consult your doctor if you feel unusual symptoms or if symptoms persist. If someone has hot dry skin and delirium, convulsions or is unconscious, call a doctor or an ambulance immediately.

Long-term solutions need global actions, adapted locally

Beyond adapting to our new reality this summer, we must look to the years and decades ahead. There is a desperate and urgent need for regional and global action to effectively tackle the climate crisis, which poses an existential threat to the human race.

Earlier this month in Hungary, countries from across the WHO European Region adopted the Budapest Declaration, committing to address the worst impacts of climate change on our health and health systems, and to do so in partnership with each other.

Crucially, we must involve the youth, because they are truly engaged on the climate issues they are inheriting, often bursting with ideas and solutions.

Finally, action on climate change cannot be predicated on a particular government or political party – it truly needs to be a non-partisan issue championed by all sides of the political spectrum, from left to right. The Budapest Declaration helps to enshrine this much-needed solidarity, setting the scene for joint action to safeguard our future on this planet.   

ENDS

eupress@who.int