Description:
The Heat Health Action Plan was developed in Italy to improve awareness of and reduce heat related health impacts. The main purpose of this solution is to raise awareness and to provide coordinated response between different policy makers and stakeholders in the community.
The interaction of the plan is bilateral between institutions, emergency services, non-governmental organisations, and the health system, specifically in that they manage the plan and ensure prevention, preparedness and response. Population subgroups at risk during heat waves are the target group of the action to whom prevention measures and awareness campaigns are addressed to. Main components of the plan are a Heat Health Watch Warning Systems, a Daily Mortality Surveillance System, local prevention plans, guidelines for the prevention of the effects of heat on health, and identification of population subgroups at risk for the effects of heat ("susceptible").
The heat plan is reguarly evaluated in all its components and epidemiological studies have shown and a positive effect of the plan in terms of an reduction in heat-related mortality in years following the intorduction of the heat wave plan.
The solution could help to address the following needs of first responders and authorities:
Improve preparedness level among citizens
Communicate with or alert citizens