Heat is the leading cause of climate-related deaths in Europe, according to the World Health Organization.
In an update on Friday, the UN health agency said heat claims more than 175,000 lives every year in WHO’s European region, which includes Europe and Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan.
“Temperature extremes such as those we’re experiencing at the moment are really exacerbating chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebro-vascular diseases [such as stroke], mental health and diabetes-related conditions as well,” Hans Kluge, WHO’s Europe director said.
“The extreme heat that we’re experiencing is a particular problem for elderly people, especially those living alone.”
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Heat-related deaths on the rise
Globally, about 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred each year between 2000 and 2019.
Over the past two decades, there has been a 30 per cent increase in heat-related deaths worldwide.
The agency said temperatures in WHO’s European Region are rising at twice the global average and the region accounted for 36 per cent of the global tally. On average, that’s more than 175,000 deaths annually.
Kluge urged countries to develop heat-health action plans to make places more resilient and adapt to more frequent heat waves.
The report doesn’t include recent hot years or the heat wave gripping the Mediterranean region this week.
Staying safe in the heat
Earlier this week, a report by World Weather Attribution, a group in the United Kingdom that estimates the contribution of climate change to individual weather events, said that without climate change, temperatures in eastern Europe and northern Africa would have been 3.3 C cooler in July. The latest heat wave killed at least 21 people in Morocco.
The WHO said the harmful health effects of heat are largely preventable through good public health practices, such as raising awareness of the dangers of extreme heat and guiding people to stay safe. Such guidance includes:
- Keeping out of the heat during peak hours, such as avoiding strenuous activity, not leaving children or animals in parked vehicles and spending time in indoor cool places when needed.
- Keeping homes cool, such as by using blinds and shutters during the day.
- Keeping your body cool and hydrated with light and loose-fitting clothing, cool showers, drinking water regularly and avoiding dehydrating sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
- Checking in on family, friends and neighbours, especially the elderly.
The agency said it will provide an evidence-based reference for national and local governments to establish their own plans or update existing ones to better manage heat risks.