Finland to publish national heatwave action plan this autumn

Finland’s Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) will release a national heatwave action plan this autumn, outlining recommendations for sectors such as healthcare to prepare for extreme heat, according to THL’s chief physician Mikaela Grotenfelt-Enegren.

Heatwaves already pose a significant public health risk in Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health states. Severe heat increases hospital visits and emergency care demand, and healthcare staff may need training to recognise heat-related health risks. Grotenfelt-Enegren noted that a survey a few years ago found high temperatures already affected both patients and staff endurance.

Finland will look to other European countries for examples, such as heat warning systems and cooling centres, she said.

Extreme heat has already proven deadly in Europe this year. In Germany, an estimated 5,000 excess deaths occurred between late April and late June due to heat, while France saw over 2,000 more deaths than usual during its June heatwave.