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Heatwave Early Warning Systems and Adaptation Advice to Reduce Human Health Consequences of Heatwaves

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  • Dianne Lowe

    (Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
    Centre for Health Communication and Participation, Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing, La Trobe University, 3086 Plenty Road, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia)

  • Kristie L. Ebi

    (Department of Medicine, Stanford University, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA 94305, USA)

  • Bertil Forsberg

    (Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden)

Abstract

Introduction : With climate change, there has been an increase in the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwave events. In response to the devastating mortality and morbidity of recent heatwave events, many countries have introduced heatwave early warning systems (HEWS). HEWS are designed to reduce the avoidable human health consequences of heatwaves through timely notification of prevention measures to vulnerable populations. Objective : To identify the key characteristics of HEWS in European countries to help inform modification of current, and development of, new systems and plans. Methods : We searched the internet to identify HEWS policy or government documents for 33 European countries and requested information from relevant organizations. We translated the HEWS documents and extracted details on the trigger indicators, thresholds for action, notification strategies, message intermediaries, communication and dissemination strategies, prevention strategies recommended and specified target audiences. Findings and Conclusions : Twelve European countries have HEWS. Although there are many similarities among the HEWS, there also are differences in key characteristics that could inform improvements in heatwave early warning plans.

Suggested Citation

  • Dianne Lowe & Kristie L. Ebi & Bertil Forsberg, 2011. "Heatwave Early Warning Systems and Adaptation Advice to Reduce Human Health Consequences of Heatwaves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:8:y:2011:i:12:p:4623-4648:d:15185
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    5. Rachel Lowe & Joan Ballester & James Creswick & Jean-Marie Robine & François R. Herrmann & Xavier Rodó, 2015. "Evaluating the Performance of a Climate-Driven Mortality Model during Heat Waves and Cold Spells in Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
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    8. Amruta Nori-Sarma & Tarik Benmarhnia & Ajit Rajiva & Gulrez Shah Azhar & Prakash Gupta & Mangesh S. Pednekar & Michelle L. Bell, 2019. "Advancing our Understanding of Heat Wave Criteria and Associated Health Impacts to Improve Heat Wave Alerts in Developing Country Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-13, June.
    9. Mary Fox & Christopher Zuidema & Bridget Bauman & Thomas Burke & Mary Sheehan, 2019. "Integrating Public Health into Climate Change Policy and Planning: State of Practice Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-22, September.
    10. Tjaša Pogačar & Zala Žnidaršič & Lučka Kajfež Bogataj & Andreas D. Flouris & Konstantina Poulianiti & Zalika Črepinšek, 2019. "Heat Waves Occurrence and Outdoor Workers’ Self-assessment of Heat Stress in Slovenia and Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    11. Melanie Boeckmann & Hajo Zeeb, 2014. "Using a Social Justice and Health Framework to Assess European Climate Change Adaptation Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, November.
    12. Kathleen E. McLean & Rebecca Stranberg & Melissa MacDonald & Gregory R. A. Richardson & Tom Kosatsky & Sarah B. Henderson, 2018. "Establishing Heat Alert Thresholds for the Varied Climatic Regions of British Columbia, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    13. Vladimir Kendrovski & Michela Baccini & Gerardo Sanchez Martinez & Tanja Wolf & Elizabet Paunovic & Bettina Menne, 2017. "Quantifying Projected Heat Mortality Impacts under 21st-Century Warming Conditions for Selected European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, July.
    14. Christofer Åström & Kristie L. Ebi & Joakim Langner & Bertil Forsberg, 2014. "Developing a Heatwave Early Warning System for Sweden: Evaluating Sensitivity of Different Epidemiological Modelling Approaches to Forecast Temperatures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Nguyen Duc Kien & Nguyen H. D. My & Dang Thi Anh Thu & Ton That Canh Tri & Nghiem Hong Son & Thai Khanh Phong & Hoang Cong Tin & Nguyen Hoang Lan & Tran Binh Thang & Bui Dung The & Phung Tri Dung, 2023. "Valuation of a Heatwave Early Warning System for Mitigating Risks Associated with Heat-Related Illness in Central Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-21, October.
    16. Fariha Hasan & Shayan Marsia & Kajal Patel & Priyanka Agrawal & Junaid Abdul Razzak, 2021. "Effective Community-Based Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Heat-Related Illnesses: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    17. Nicola Banwell & Shannon Rutherford & Brendan Mackey & Cordia Chu, 2018. "Towards Improved Linkage of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
    18. Francesca K. De’ Donato & Michela Leone & Matteo Scortichini & Manuela De Sario & Klea Katsouyanni & Timo Lanki & Xavier Basagaña & Ferran Ballester & Christofer Åström & Anna Paldy & Mathilde Pascal , 2015. "Changes in the Effect of Heat on Mortality in the Last 20 Years in Nine European Cities. Results from the PHASE Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Seulkee Heo & Amruta Nori-Sarma & Kwonsang Lee & Tarik Benmarhnia & Francesca Dominici & Michelle L. Bell, 2019. "The Use of a Quasi-Experimental Study on the Mortality Effect of a Heat Wave Warning System in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-20, June.
    20. Rebecca M. Garland & Mamopeli Matooane & Francois A. Engelbrecht & Mary-Jane M. Bopape & Willem A. Landman & Mogesh Naidoo & Jacobus Van der Merwe & Caradee Y. Wright, 2015. "Regional Projections of Extreme Apparent Temperature Days in Africa and the Related Potential Risk to Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-28, October.
    21. Yeora Chae & Jongchul Park, 2021. "Analysis on Effectiveness of Impact Based Heatwave Warning Considering Severity and Likelihood of Health Impacts in Seoul, Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.

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