ENBEL briefing: Protecting the vulnerable from heatwaves

Exposure to high temperatures impacts human health but some individuals are more at risk due to higher exposures or differential susceptibility. In its policy brief, ENBEL, a European project aimed at connecting health and climate change research, summarises the growing body of evidence on vulnerable groups and prevention measures in heat health action plans. ENBEL highlights that there is limited evidence of the formal evaluation of heat public health interventions and response measures, and a lack of evidence regarding their effectiveness for vulnerable groups specifically. Most current evidence is found to be for school-based interventions for athletes and individual protective cooling equipment for outdoor workers. ENBEL signals that more documentation and research is needed on the measures and activities put in place in general, and specifically for socially deprived, homeless, chronically sick, and mental illness groups – which are neglected by health and social care systems. 

The policy briefs can be consulted at ENBEL's website.