Open HSI menu
Subscribe Login

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Press Release / Communication Aspects about Heat in an Era of Global Warming − The Lessons Learnt by Germany and Beyond

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

MORE

  • Press Releases
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Open HSI menu
Subscribe

Home / Articles and Press Releases / Press Release / Communication Aspects about Heat in an Era of Global Warming − The Lessons Learnt by Germany and Beyond

CATEGORIES

  • Latest Issue
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

MORE

  • Press Releases
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Magazines

COMPANY

  • About
  • Advertising
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

CATEGORIES

  • Article
  • Press Release
  • Above The Neck Protection
  • Chemical Protection
  • Confined Space
  • Construction
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Energy, Oil and Mining Industries
  • Eye Protection
  • Fall Protection
  • Gas Detection
  • Hand Protection
  • Hazardous and Explosive Atmospheres
  • Health and Safety Awareness
  • Hearing Protection
  • Heat and Flame
  • Lighting and ATEX
  • Noise Monitoring
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Respiratory Protection
  • Safety Footwear
  • Safety Technology
  • Safety Training
  • Slips, Trips and Falls
  • Wellbeing at Work
  • White Papers
  • Working at Height
  • Working Rights

Press Release

Communication Aspects about Heat in an Era of Global Warming − The Lessons Learnt by Germany and Beyond

By Andreas Matzarakis

| Read Bio

Published: September 13th, 2022

Share this article

Heat is a specific issue in terms of climate change due to the negative effects on morbidity/mortality and on human health in general. Measures and recommendations against heat and its effects should reach affected people, helpers and decision makers and should, therefore, be communicated in an appropriate and easily understandable way.

Communication aspects about heat in an era of global warming − the lessons learnt by germany and beyond

Since the heat waves of summer 2003, countries and cities in Europe have started to develop emergency plans, including early warning systems3. With accurate and early weather forecasts, thorough knowledge of the effects of heat, and education and advice for citizens and targeted measures for vulnerable populations, as well as appropriate landscape and urban planning measures, the number of avoidable deaths should be reduced in future heat waves4,5.

The negative health consequences of heat waves have been both demonstrated and documented within mortality data for numerous countries, and have thus far been well studied by the international scientific community. During the well-known heat wave Atmosphere 2022, 13, 226. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13020226 https:// www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphere Atmosphere 2022, 13, 226 2 of 6 in the summer of 2003, which hit large parts of Western and Central Europe in early August, around 7600 additional deaths were recorded in Germany6 and over 70,000 for Europe7-9. Not

only in the mortality data, but also in other data linked to health systems (i.e. hospital admissions and emergency room visits), the negative influence of heat waves is unambiguously palpable.

The following facts are known:

  • Causes of death were heart stroke, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and respiratory and metabolic disorders due to heat stress.
  • The age group over 70 was most affected, especially in the case of women.
  • People with chronic diseases were more at risk than others as a result of exacerbating inherent symptoms and vulnerabilities.
  • Vulnerable, low-income populations(and their inherently associated living standards/conditions) were the most affected by the additional mortality rates. The extreme heat was higher in cities than elsewhere. Although
    it is noted that increases in temperatures in peri-urban and rural areas were also witnessed, thus raising the need to apply caution in Urban Heat Island (UHI) comparative calculation methodologies as well.

The effects of heat on people’s health depend on three influencing factors: the duration, frequency and intensity to which people are exposed. For healthy people, slightly increased demands on thermoregulation, which are met by appropriate activity, behaviour, and sufficient fluid intake, reduce the threat and/or challenge presented to the biometeorological system. Heat puts strain on the cardiovascular system, and the body is exposed to higher stress in order to keep the core body temperature constant. For people with pre-existing health implications and problems, this additional stress can exacerbate numerous existing susceptibilities, which is why heat has also been shown to have a significant influence on other diseases, including respiratory diseases. If thermoregulation is restricted, disturbances of the water and electrolyte balance can occur, which can lead to life-threatening impairments of the cardiovascular system.


References

  1. Research Centre Human Biometeorology, Deutscher Wetterdienst, Stefan-Meier-Str. 4, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; [email protected]
  2. Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79085 Freiburg, Germany
  3. Matzarakis, A.; Laschewski, G.; Muthers, S. The Heat Health Warning System in Germany—Application and Warnings for 2005 to 2019. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 170. [CrossRef]
  4. Matzarakis, A. Hitzeereignisse: Charakteristika, Gesundheitsrelevanz und Anpassungsmöglichkeiten. Geographische Rundschau 2021, 2021, 8–13.
  5. Mücke, H.; Matzarakis, A. Klimawandel und Gesundheit. In Handbuch für Umweltmedizin. Ecomed, LandsbergamLech; Wichmann, E., Fromme, H., Eds.; Ecomed: Landsberg, Germany, 2017; pp. 1–38.
  6. An der Heiden, M.; Muthers, S.; Niemann, H.; Buchholz, U.; Grabenhenrich, L.; Matzarakis, A. Schatzung hitzebedingter Todesfalle in Deutschland zwischen 2001 und 2015. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundh. Gesundh. 2019, 62, 571–579. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  7. Robine, J.-M.; Cheung, S.L.; Le Roy, S.; Van Oyen, H.; Herrmann, F.R. Report on Excess Mortality in Europe during Summer 2003; EU Community Action Programme for Public Health, Grant Agreement: Brussels, Belgium, 2007; p. 28.
  8. Robine, J.M.; Cheung, S.L.; Le Roy, S.; Van Oyen, H.; Griffiths, C.; Michel, J.-P.; Herrmann, F.R. Death toll exceeded 70,000 in Europe during the summer of 2003. Comptes Rendus Biol. 2008, 331, 171–178. [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  9. Mücke, H.-G.; Matzarakis, A. Klimawandel und Gesundheit: Tipps für Sommerliche Hitze und Hitzewellen; Deutscher Wetterdienst: Offenbach, Germany, 2019. Available online: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/klimawandel-gesundheit-tipps- fuer-sommerliche-hitze (accessed on 10 January 2022)

Share this article

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andreas Matzarakis

POPULAR POSTS BY Andreas Matzarakis

Communication aspects about heat in an era of global warming − the lessons learnt by germany and beyond

Press Release

Communication Aspects about Heat in an Era of Global Warming − The Lessons Learnt by Germany and Beyond

Get email updates

Sign up for the HSI newsletter

Keep up-to-date through the power of email with Europe's largest audited safety magazine - delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Article

 Thameslink Traffic Management Programme

Press Release

‘Working At Height’ Remains Biggest Danger

Press Release

“Uncertainty and Ignorance” Risks More Asbestos Deaths

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSI on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/HSIMagazine/

Advertisement

SOCIAL MEDIA

HSI on Twitter

hsimagazine HSI Magazine @hsimagazine ·
25 Jan

Global gas sensing leader @ionscience has today formally announced the addition of a high-specification Particulate Matter (PM) sensor to its portfolio.

Read all about this exciting addition!
https://www.hsimagazine.com/press-release/worlds-best-performing-particulate-matter-pm-sensor-now-available-from-ion-science-ltd/

#hsimagazine #ionscience #particulatematter

Reply on Twitter 1618280038557970432 Retweet on Twitter 1618280038557970432 Like on Twitter 1618280038557970432 Twitter 1618280038557970432

Advertisement

SUBSCRIBE

Stay up to date with our newsletter

    • Keep up-to-date with Europe’s largest audited safety magazine

 

    • Delivering the latest news and products to satisfy all your occupational safety needs

 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Subscribe

SUBSCRIBE TO HSI MAGAZINE

5 reasons to subscribe to our digital and print package

  • Stay up to date from anywhere in the world, with instant access to the latest issue straight from your phone, tablet or laptop.
  • Trust that you’re getting the best content from our range of internationally accredited authors.
  • Get full access to our archives and see how occupational safety has evolved with us over the years.
  • Enjoy our monthly newsletter curated with up-to-the-minute news and a selection of editor’s top picks.
  • Hot off the press and straight to your door – look forward to your own glossy copy of HSI, delivered five times a year
Subscribe View Subscription levels

STAY SAFE & INFORMED

Subscribe to the best health & safety articles, news, products and regulations

Find out more

Stay up to date with our newsletter

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ABOUT

  • About HSI International
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

YOUR ACCOUNT

Sign In Register Account Subscribe to HSI

RESOURCES

Request Media Pack

CONNECT

ACCREDITATIONS

Copyright Bay Publishing 2023. All Rights reserved.

Designed & Built by:
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT