The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines to prevent heat-related disorders at large gatherings, citing a significant increase in heat-related deaths globally. According to the WHO, there has been a 63% increase in heat-related deaths since the 90s, with an average of 546,000 deaths per year between 2012 and 2021. This increase is attributed to extreme heat events, including heatwaves, which have become more frequent and intense in most land regions since the 1950s.
The WHO warns that large gatherings, such as major sporting, religious, and cultural events, pose a particularly risky context for heat-related disorders. During these events, heat-related disorders have become a significant danger for public health and operational continuity, affecting spectators, participants, volunteers, and staff. Studies have documented almost half a million health interventions during large gatherings, including over 22,000 heat-associated cases.
The WHO emphasizes that protection from heat-related disorders cannot depend solely on individual behavior. According to Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, extreme heat represents a growing threat to health, safety, and operational continuity during large gatherings. He stresses that this threat must be addressed not only as an environmental risk but also as a fundamental challenge of operational management and governance.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that extreme heat events, including heatwaves, have become more frequent and intense in most land regions since the 1950s, mainly due to climate change. The IPCC expects a further increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events with every additional increment of global warming. This makes it essential to address heat-related risks, particularly during large gatherings.
The WHO guidelines promote an approach that considers the event in its entirety, recognizing that factors such as venue configuration, crowd management, water and sanitation services, transport, security, communications, and personnel management affect access to cooling systems, safe water, and timely medical assistance. The guidelines cover the entire event cycle and should be integrated into broader emergency preparedness and multi-hazard management strategies.
To secure large gatherings from the dangers of increasing heat, the WHO emphasizes the importance of investing in preparedness and response measures before temperatures reach dangerous levels. Effective approaches combine several measures, including access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, cooling infrastructure, changes to activity scheduling, crowd management, protective measures for workers, public communication, real-time surveillance, and adequately organized on-site medical services.
The WHO invites governments, event organizers, and partners to integrate heat-related risk management into health planning, preparedness, and operations for large events worldwide. By strengthening consistency in risk assessment, preparedness, and response, it is possible to reduce immediate harm and promote safer, more resilient event planning in a warming world.
Key points
- The WHO reports a 63% increase in global heat-related deaths since the 90s, with an average of 546,000 deaths per year between 2012 and 2021.
- Large gatherings pose a significant risk for heat-related disorders, affecting spectators, participants, volunteers, and staff.
- The WHO emphasizes the importance of investing in preparedness and response measures to secure large gatherings from the dangers of increasing heat.
