Health impacts of heat: surveillance and preparedness in Europe

Europe has experienced record summer temperatures and repeated, prolonged heat waves in recent years (ECMWF, 2022; C3S, 2024a). When the human body is exposed to periods of very high temperature, it can have trouble regulating it, leading to heat stress, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and complications from pre-existing medical conditions, which in some cases lead to premature death. The elderly, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, people suffering from cardiovascular, respiratory or renal diseases, diabetes or mental health disorders and marginalized people and people with insufficient resources are among the most vulnerable to extreme heat (WHO Europe, 2021). (More on eea.europa.eu)