Heat-health Action Plan: to prevent the heat-waves consequences on the health of the population in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The Health-health Action Plan of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been developed to implement adaptation measures and prevent health consequences of extreme heat caused by changing weather conditions as a result of climate change. The primary goal of the Plan is to reduce heat-related morbidity and deaths through issuing heat health warnings, with particular emphasis on the most vulnerable population groups, provide timely advice and announcements of upcoming heat-waves, raise awareness amongst the public and health workers, and coordinate and mobilize all available resources in a timely manner to prevent the health consequences of heat-waves. The Plan consists of activities that will be conducted by governmental representatives and institutions from the health sector as well as other relevant sectors. The aim of the Plan is to provide a multisectoral approach in the response to extreme heat, through prompt action by all institutions designated as responsible with this Plan. This document is in line with the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Improving public health responses to extreme weather/heat-waves: EuroHEAT: technical summary

EuroHEAT, a project co-funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Consumers,aimed to improve public health responses to weather extremes and to heat-waves in particular. Climate change isprojected to lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including heat-waves.In the European cities analysed in the EuroHEAT project, the estimated excess mortality ranged from 7.6% to33.6% during heat-wave episodes. Long and intense heat-waves have the most severe health effects. There isgrowing evidence from EuroHEAT that the effects of heat-wave days on mortality are greater, particularly amongthe elderly, when levels of ozone or particulate matter are high. A wide range of chronic diseases and medicaltreatments, social isolation and some types of occupation increase the risk of heat stress in individuals. InEuropean cities, the elderly suffer the greatest effects of heat-waves. Across Europe, housing and socioeconomicconditions showed varying influence on the impacts of heat on health. On the basis of the results generated bythe EuroHEAT project, two tools for public health interventions were developed: the web-based climateinformation support tool and the guidance for heat–health action plans. This document summarizes the overallproject results.

First meeting of the project: improving public health responses to extreme weather/heat-waves: EuroHEAT: report on a WHO Meeting Rome, Italy 20-22 June 2005

EuroHEAT, a DG SANCO co-funded project, aims to improve public health responses to weather extremes, and to heat-waves inparticular. As coordinator of the project, the WHO Regional Office for Europe organized an expert meeting in Rome to informparticipants of the current status in the area and the project, to discuss the various work packages and phases, to discuss which climateinformation is necessary for public health and to develop an outreach and communication plan for the project. The project's activitiesare organized into nine work packages, under the overall topics of assessing the evidence for the health impacts of extreme weather,developing climate forecasts, detecting early health impacts and developing actions to prevent health impacts.The participants identified the need to use results and scientific information from the project work packages to:• develop a minimum set of requirements for heat-health warning systems that Member States can use as guidance;• compile guidance on the best practice for the treatment of heat stroke patients; and• develop guidance for public advice and information materials.Collaboration with country advisers is essential to achieve these results.The next EuroHEAT meeting is planned for 18 and 19 May 2006 in Budapest and will be organized jointly by the WHO Regional Officefor Europe and the National Institute of Environmental Health in Budapest, Hungary.

Периоды сильной жары: угрозы и ответные меры

Даже в нынешних климатических условиях высокие температуры воздуха могут влиять на здоровье людей и приводить к дополнительным случаям смерти. Хотя периоды сильной жары и не характерны для Европы, они могут оказывать сильное воздействие на здоровье населения, что было наглядно продемонстрировано событиями, имевшими место летом 2003 года. В настоящем докладе дается обзор наших нынешних знаний о воздействии периодов сильной жары, в том числе о физиологических аспектах тепловых заболеваний, приводятся эпидемиологические данные о дополнительной смертности в такие периоды, а также предлагаются рекомендации о соответствующих профилактических мерах. В качестве примеров эффективных действий в этой области можно назвать создание систем медицинских предупреждений о наступлении сильной жары и принятие мер для решения связанных с жарой проблем на этапе городского планирования и проектирования жилья. В европейских странах необходимо внедрить больше систем медицинских предупреждений о наступлении сильной жары. Для этого требуется четкая координация действий между ведомствами здравоохранения и метеорологии и выработка соответствующих целевых рекомендаций и мер вмешательства. Для изменения биоклимата городов и уменьшения эффекта городских тепловых островов в летнее время нужно более тщательное долгосрочное планирование. При разумной конструкции зданий температуры в помещении должны сохраняться комфортными и без применения энергоемких систем охлаждения внутренних помещений. Частота периодов сильной жары будет, по-видимому, увеличиваться из-за изменения глобального климата, и поэтому необходимо разработать и оценить наиболее действенные меры вмешательства, практические действия и направления политики по охране здоровья уязвимых категорий европейцев.

Heat-waves: risks and responses

High air temperatures can affect human health and lead to additional deaths even under current climatic conditions. Heat-waves occur infrequently in Europe and can significantly affect human health, as witnessed in summer 2003. This report reviews current knowledge about the effects of heat-waves, including the physiological aspects of heat illness and epidemiological studies on excess mortality, and makes recommendations for preventive action. Measures for reducing heat-related mortality and morbidity include heat health warning systems, and appropriate urban planning and housing design. More heat health warnings systems need to be implemented in European countries. This requires good coordination between health and meteorological agencies, and the development of appropriate targeted advice and intervention measures. More long-term planning is required to alter urban bioclimates and reduce urban heat islands in summer. Appropriate building design should keep indoor temperatures comfortable without using energy-intensive space cooling. As heat-waves are likely to increase in frequency because of global climate change, the most effective interventions, measures and policies to protect the health of vulnerable Europeans need to be developed and evaluated.