HOPE E-COURSE STUDENTS -ENGLISH FINAL
A heat health action plan (HHAP) has several core elements. Some of the actions that can be taken include activities aimed at individuals (module 3), building-specific actions (module 4) and city/community-level actions (this module). Chapter 3 of the WHO report on HHAP (2008) is helpful to understand more about its purpose and elements. The following WHO website also provides background information related to heat health action plans Planning heat–-health action (who.int)
Health outcomes are shaped by how long, how often, and how intensely individuals are exposed to heat. Therefore, it is essential to act swiftly and comprehensively to reduce this exposure. Implementing a range of measures before and during the summer, as part of a structured heat-health action plan, can help prepare for and manage heat waves. However, the most effective way to mitigate heat-related health effects is to also adopt long-term measures in the housing, energy, and urban planning sectors at an early stage. The intersectoral action needed to effectively address and prevent heat-related health problems is studied in week 4 of this module. In this module, we try to understand the core elements of an HHAP.
To get an idea of what the result may be of an HHAP, you may want to watch the following video that illustrates how health action planning has saved lives in South Asia
Heat waves are approached or regarded similarly as emergencies. This means that the basis of an HHAP is based upon things we have learned from emergency response.
Heat action plans can consist at the national, regional and local levels. According to the World Health Organization (2008), regardless of the level, an HHAP consists of the following eight elements:
agreement on a lead body; that means making sure that an agency takes the lead in developing, introducing and implementation of the HHAP.
accurate and timely alert systems; the key components of a Heat-Health Warning System (HHWS) include identifying weather conditions that can harm human health, monitoring weather forecasts, and setting up mechanisms to issue warnings through meteorological services when such weather conditions are expected.
a heat-related health information plan; important to inform and advise target groups, some specific professional workers (like community workers, General Practitioners, Home Care professionals, hospitals or nursing home professionals) and the population in general. The main six categories of advice and/or information are:
1. keeping the home cool 2. keeping out of the heat 3. keeping the body cool and hydrated 4. helping others 5. what to do if you have a health problem 6. what to do when others feel unwell.
a reduction in indoor heat exposure; using a combination of passive and active cooling interventions (see also module 4).
particular care for vulnerable population groups; here again it is necessary that in particular settings act promptly and adequately, such as hospitals, Elderly homes, Nursing Homes but also places like community centres and organisations that employ outdoor workers.
preparedness of the health and social care system; for the health and social care system it is advised to have an HHAP in place, have trained professionals to act promptly and inform and relate the activation of the HHAP to the HHWS.
long-term urban planning; interventions that may be helpful in the long term relate to greening, building constructions and materials, blue zones, and materials used in the pavement (see also week 2 on heat islands).
real-time surveillance and evaluation; it is helpful to use the real-time health data that are gathered by different monitoring systems in order to adapt the strategy and/or activities or target certain vulnerable populations.
The elements are also visible in another way in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Community Heat Health Action Plan
Source: Ollie Jay et al. (2021). www.thelancet.com vol 398 aug. 2021.
Implementation of the HHAP and its elements can be organized according to the following planning cycle:
longer-term development and planning
preparation before the summer (pre-summer)
prevention during the summer (summer)
specific responses to heat waves (when they occur or are expected to occur)
monitoring and evaluation.
If you want to further broaden your knowledge you can read the following sources:
https://www.who.int/europe/activities/planning-heat-health-action
WHO/EURO 2008. Heat Health action plans. Chapter 3 Copenhagen: WHO/EURO.
In the HOPE database of good practice, you may find also examples of HHAPs that are put into place. Please search in this database for an example of an HHAP. Try to analyse this plan with the use of the eight elements of the WHO. Can you discover the elements as presented in the PowerPoint above?
An example you can use is the habitat, housing health approach as used in the Netherlands
(Insert here the flyer heat adaptation in the Netherlands.)
Knowledge check:
(insert H5P Knowledge check 5.3)
WHO/EURO 2008. Heat Health action plans. Chapter 3 Copenhagen: WHO/EURO.
Ollie Jay et al. (2021). www.thelancet.com vol 398 aug. 2021.