MORE than 47,000 people will die in Europe due to extreme heat in 2023, with the UK ranking seventh in overall deaths.
A report from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) found that countries in the southern part of the continent were the worst hit by the deadly heatwave.
Last year was the hottest year on record in the world. As climate change continues to drive up temperatures, Europeans living on the world’s fastest-warming continent are facing increasing health risks from extreme heat.
The death toll in 2023 is lower than the previous year’s estimate of 60,000 people related to heat-related deaths, despite higher temperatures.
But experts warn that figure would be 80 per cent higher without measures designed to help Europeans cope with the heat, such as early warning systems to ensure older people are supported and improved public healthcare.
“Our results show how a process of social adaptation to high temperatures has occurred over this century, which has dramatically reduced heat-related vulnerability and the burden of mortality in recent summers, especially among the elderly,” said Elisa Gallo, a researcher at ISGlobal and lead author of the study.
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Researchers used death and temperature records from 35 European countries.
They estimated that 47,690 people died from causes related to high temperatures. Heat has been dubbed by doctors as a ‘silent killer’ because of the way it worsens existing health conditions, such as heart disease, meaning it kills more people than previously thought.
Adjusting for population data, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain were the countries with the highest heat-related death rates.
Read also: Global Temperatures Hit Record Highs for Last 13 Months
Although the UK does not feature in the top 10 countries for heat-related deaths, it is seventh with more than 1,800 deaths.
Meanwhile, Italy recorded the highest number of deaths, with more than 12,000, followed by Spain and Germany.
It comes as Britain experienced its worst summer day in two years when temperatures reached 34.8 degrees Celsius in Cambridge.
Also read: India Hit by Heat Wave, Temperature Nearly 50 Degrees Celsius
The short-lived hot weather is expected to ease over the next few days with cooler temperatures and scattered rain across the country.
But warm temperatures are expected to persist today in southeast England, where temperatures could reach 29 degrees Celsius (84.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
That said, the sudden warm weather is partly due to Tropical Storm Debby, which caused flooding across the eastern US before hitting Canada last week.
This has led to the issuance of a yellow heat health warning for the East and West Midlands, East of England, South East and South West, North West and London by the UK Health Security Agency until 9am on Wednesday, (14/8).
The warning means those who are particularly vulnerable, such as older people with multiple health conditions, may struggle to cope with the heat, and action may be needed in the health and social care sectors.
Caroline Abrahams, director of charity Age UK, said older people with health conditions should remain as calm as possible and advised friends and neighbours to offer help with prescriptions or shopping.
“The aging body finds it difficult to cope with extreme temperatures, so even if you’re someone who has always loved hot weather, this doesn’t mean you’ll face a day like this with as much joy and ease as usual.”
“It’s good to know your own body, and keep track of how it changes over the years, but especially if you live with a serious heart or lung condition, it’s important to avoid excessive heat,” he added.
“There are some simple tips we can follow to stay safe and healthy in hot weather, but for most of us, it’s more a matter of using common sense,” Abrahams continued.
Talking about simple tips that can be done to stay healthy in the midst of extreme hot weather, here are some tips for outdoor activities to avoid dehydration.
1. Drink lots of water
The best way you can do is to drink more water. You can bring water wherever you go.
This aims to prevent the body from dehydration. Fulfill the body’s fluid needs by drinking eight glasses of water per day.
2. Use sunscreen
When doing outdoor activities, it is recommended to use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. The purpose of applying sunscreen is to prevent the skin from burning from the heat of the sun.
Not only wearing sunscreen, make sure you always bring or use a hat or umbrella. Then, make sure you wear loose and sweat-absorbent clothing, so that your body remains comfortable when extreme weather hits.
3. Avoid Caffeinated Drinks
When outdoors, reduce consumption of sweet and caffeinated drinks, especially alcohol. This aims to keep the body comfortable and avoid various diseases due to very extreme weather.
4. Avoid staying in the car for too long
When the weather is very hot, be careful not to stay in the car for too long, and don’t leave people or pets unattended.
Locking and closing the windows will keep the temperature inside the car getting hotter, which can cause symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, pale skin, vomiting, lethargy, and excessive sweating. (Z-10)
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