Health risks during heat, storms and flooding
Health risks are also changing as the climate changes: for example, the increase in winter temperatures in particular is likely to manage to improve the chances of survival of microorganisms that are dangerous to humans in regions where they were previously barely able to survive. The increase in summer heat waves without night-time cooling represents a considerable health burden, especially for older or chronically ill people. Risks from extreme weather events such as storms or heavy rain are increasing.
How must risk communication, health protection, prevention and health care strategies be appointed to the new challenges associated with climate change? What health effects are to be expected? How can particularly vulnerable regions be identified? What new risk monitoring methods need to be developed? How can a forward-looking adaptation strategy be implemented in the structures of the health system? To what extent can participatory strategies be used here?
- With climate change, heat extremes are also becoming more likely in Germany. It has been known since the summer of 2003 that periods of heat in Europe can manage additional deaths. Comprehensive prevention of damage to health caused by heat events requires measures and adjustments at various levels, some of which (spatial and urban planning, building refurbishment) can comprise a time horizon of years to decades.
- This makes it all the more important to establish complementary effective warning, prevention and early detection systems that reach the entire population and, above all, people at risk on a situational basis in order to inform them about the possibility of and individual measures to reduce the risk of exposure and susceptibility and to motivate them to do so. The World Health Organisation recommends the development of "Heat Action Plans", which have been introduced in some European countries. In Germany, full implementation has not yet been achieved.
- Extreme weather events can have a significant impact on the functioning of mobile health services, among others. Services must develop suitable emergency plans, which must also provide for the deployment of voluntary staff and create the appropriate conditions.
- In principle, it is possible to monitor the health risk posed by ticks and mosquito vectors with the help of the population. Such "citizen science" strategies have become increasingly important in recent years.
Prof. Dr. Henny Annette Grewe
Medical basics of nursing
Prof. Dr. Thilo Schlott
Human Biology and Statistics
