Recent evidence from the WHO European Region on heat and health prevention.
Author:
Francesca de’Donato, Department of Epidemiology Lazio regional health Service, Italy
In light of summer 2021 approaching, in which we are still in a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent WHO report on evidence for heat and health prevention in Europe provides useful insights on how to adjust Heat health adaptation plans (HHAPs) to ensure an effective heat response.
The WHO Regional Office for Europe recently published a report updating the evidence for heat and health prevention in the European region. For each core element of a Heat health action plan (HHAP), previously identified in the WHO guidance on heat–health action planning document, an update of the scientific evidence is presented in the report together with results from a survey on current Heat health adaptation plans implemented in Europe. The updated information is useful for adjusting and integrating current Heat health adaptation plans and focusing resources on those aspects still hindering in implementation.
Warning systems to alert the population, dissemination of information and governance at national level has had a good level of implementation, while long-term urban planning interventions to reduce heat exposure are relatively uncommon. Several Heat health action plans lack organized, systematic monitoring and evaluation measures, without which it is difficult to evaluate their effectiveness and improve the current status of things.
Vulnerable groups most at risk during summer heat
In the last years scientific evidence on vulnerable groups most at risk during summer heat and response practises have become more robust. Although severe health risks might be more common among the elderly, people with chronic conditions such as heart and respiratory disease, diabetes and mental health disorders, as well as workers carrying out labour intensive activities, with protective clothing and equipment and working in specific sectors, pregnant women and small children can suffer from heat-related health conditions. By having a better idea of who is most at-risk, public health prevention and response measures need to be actively targeted to these people raising awareness on the health risks, enhancing training of health and social services before the summer season and actively monitoring and implementing proactive measures during extreme events.
How to adjust heat responses measures during COVID
With regards to the COVID-19 emergency, the report also includes material on communication and information campaigns, amending response measures in accordance with COVID-19 physical distancing measures, common space-use restrictions and changes in health care services and practise, as well as evidence on those most at risk to both heat waves and severe effects of COVID-19 to whom actions should be addressed.
Need for linking research, policy and planning
The report shows that there is a need to enhance the link between research, policy and planning, which is also one of the objectives of the ENBEL project. ENBEL will provide state-of the art evidence from current EU and Belmont Forum research projects and promote dialogue with policy makers and stakeholders to enhance adaptation to climate change as well as disaster management. Heat health adaptation plans across Europe have shown us the intra-sectoral cooperation and collaboration between environment, health and policy is possible and should be taken up in the wider context.
Heat health adaptation plans must be dynamic
The WHO document highlights the importance of Heat health adaptation plans to be dynamic and in constant adjustment over time to account for temporal changes such as rising temperatures foreseen with climate change, population susceptibility giving the constant ageing, incidence of chronic conditions and urban living as well as integrating new evidence and policy. Heat health adaptation plans need to be adequately resourced to allow a constant improvement and to be able to adjust to critical situations like the COVID-19 pandemic we find ourselves currently having to tackle.
Join webinar on the topic:
On the 5th of May the WHO European Centre for Environment and Health will host a webinar entitled “Time for heat-health action: Updated evidence for effective prevention” in which a summary of the recent WHO evidence Report and the #KeepCool in the heat campaign will be presented to ensure a more efficient heat prevention planning for this summer across Europe while we still have to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
