WHO: Extreme heat, a health crisis that requires urgent action

Hans Kluge, the WHO director for Europe, stated that governments must recognize extreme heat as a health crisis, considering the devastating impact of the heatwave that has claimed thousands of lives in Europe.

Temperatures have exceeded 40°C in some regions, leading to a significant increase in emergency calls and heightened pressure on health systems. Kluge emphasized the need to prepare hospitals to cope with these extreme conditions, including ensuring cooling and protecting vulnerable patients.

In France, emergency rooms reported a fourfold increase in heat-related conditions, and in the United Kingdom, the London Ambulance Service had its busiest day in history. Cooling failures in hospitals worsened the situation, affecting medical equipment and creating difficulties in managing patients with heat-related issues.

Kluge called for immediate actions to prevent an even worse crisis.