According to WHO estimates, 175,000 people die each year from heat in the European region

According to the World Health Organization, heat is the leading cause of climate-related deaths in Europe.

In an update on Friday, the UN health agency said heatwaves claim more than 175,000 lives each year in the WHO European Region, which includes Europe and Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan.

“Temperature extremes like the ones we are experiencing now exacerbate chronic diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases. [such as stroke]mental health problems and diabetes-related disorders,” said Hans Kluge, WHO Director for Europe.

“The extreme heat we are experiencing is particularly a problem for the elderly, especially those who live alone.”

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Heat-related deaths on the rise

Globally, there were approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths each year between 2000 and 2019.

Over the past two decades, global heat-related deaths have increased by 30 percent.

The agency said temperatures in the WHO European Region are twice the global average and the region accounts for 36 percent of the global count, averaging more than 175,000 deaths each year.

Kluge urged countries to develop heat health action plans to help areas become more resilient and adapt to more frequent heat waves.

The report does not contain any recent hot last years or the heat wave which is gripping the Mediterranean this week.

Staying safe in the heat

Earlier this week, a report from World Weather Attribution, a UK-based group that estimates the contribution of climate change to individual weather events, said that without climate change, temperatures in Eastern Europe and North Africa would have been 3.3 C cooler in July. The latest heat wave At least 21 people killed in Morocco.

The WHO said that the adverse health effects of heat can largely be prevented through good public health practices, such as raising awareness of the dangers of extreme heat and providing guidance to people to stay safe. Such guidance includes:

  • Stay out of the heat during peak hours. This can be done by avoiding strenuous exercise, not leaving children or animals in parked vehicles, and spending time in cool indoor areas if necessary.
  • Keep your home cool, for example by using blinds and shutters during the day.
  • Keep your body cool and hydrated by wearing light, loose-fitting clothing, taking cool showers, drinking water regularly, and avoiding dehydrating drinks that contain a lot of sugar, alcohol, or caffeine.
  • Contact family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly.

The agency said it will provide an evidence-based reference framework for state and local governments so they can develop their own plans or update existing plans to better manage heat risks.

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