According to the World Health Organization, heat is the leading cause of climate-related deaths in Europe.
In an update published on Friday, the UN health agency said the heatwave is claiming more than 175,000 lives each year in the WHO’s European region, which includes Europe and Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan.
“Extreme temperatures like the ones we are experiencing now really do exacerbate chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases. [such as stroke]as well as mental health problems and diabetes,” said Hans Kluge, WHO director for Europe.
“The extreme heat we are experiencing is a particular problem for older people, especially those living alone.”
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Deaths caused by heat are on the rise
Between 2000 and 2019, an estimated 489,000 heat-related deaths were recorded worldwide.
Over the past two decades, heat-related deaths have increased by 30 percent worldwide.
The agency said temperatures in the WHO European Region are rising twice as fast as the global average, and the region accounts for 36 percent of global deaths. On average, that’s more than 175,000 deaths a year.
Kluge called on countries to develop heat health action plans to make places more resilient and adapt to more frequent heatwaves.
The report does not take into account recent hot summers or the heatwave that hit the Mediterranean region this week.
Stay safe in the heat
Earlier this week, a report by World Weather Attribution, a UK-based group that estimates the impact of climate change on individual weather events, found that without climate change, temperatures in Eastern Europe and North Africa would have been 3.3C lower in July. The latest heat wave killed at least 21 people in Morocco.
The WHO said the harmful health effects of heat can largely be prevented through good public health practices, such as raising awareness of the risks of extreme heat and providing tips on how to stay safe. Such tips include:
- Avoiding heat during peak hours, e.g. avoiding strenuous exercise, not leaving children and pets in parked vehicles, and spending time in cool rooms when necessary.
- Keeping your home cool, for example by using blinds and shutters during the day.
- Keep your body cool and hydrated by wearing light, loose clothing, taking cool showers, drinking water regularly, and avoiding dehydrating drinks containing sugar, alcohol, or caffeine.
- Checking on family, friends and neighbours, especially the elderly.
The agency said it will provide an evidence-based reference point that will enable national and local authorities to develop their own plans or update existing ones to better manage heatwave risks.
