There are thousands of deaths due to heat in Germany every year. The country is not well positioned on the subject, criticizes Health Minister Lauterbach. He announces a package of measures.
Better prevention of health hazards and deaths from heat is planned in Germany. At a press conference in Berlin, Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced a “concerted action” with representatives from nursing, municipalities, medicine and science.
According to him, the goal in the coming weeks should be the creation of a “heat plan Germany” based on a corresponding plan in neighboring France.
One is not well positioned in Germany against heat death. It is about a very important prevention topic that will gain in importance, said Lauterbach. “Other countries show us how to do it.” In the coming week, an invitation to the actors for a discussion in the Federal Ministry of Health will go out. You will then have a good package of measures this year and not just next year. With reference to the upcoming talks, Lauterbach only mentioned a few possible details.
In the event of heat, an alarm is sounded
It is therefore about warning or alarm levels that are called out and to which specific measures are then linked, such as a targeted approach to older people or people in need of care and the supply of liquids. Lauterbach also cited the establishment of cold rooms and mentioned free drinking fountains in major cities in the US or France. “These are low-hanging fruits, but they bring a lot.” The federal government is also ready to invest.
The CEO of the “German Alliance for Climate Change and Health”, Martin Herrmann, said at the press conference that the German Weather Service can already issue warnings based on temperature, humidity and other factors. So far, however, there has been no response from the other side. Together with the association, the German Medical Association and the German Nursing Council also called for increased preventive and protective measures.
A statement from the three associations stated that there were 4,500 heat-related deaths in 2022 alone. In 2018, with its particularly hot summer, there were even 8,700 heat deaths. “Elderly people and those with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are particularly at risk of heat, but so are infants, children and pregnant women, the homeless and those who work outdoors.”
Source: Stern
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