1:42 p.m., July 24
New policy report makes six recommendations for governments to protect young children, who are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of heat stress
Rising temperatures in Europe and Central Asia will kill 377 children in 2021, according to a new analysis of data from 23 countries released today by UNICEF.
The policy brief, Beating the Heat: Children’s Health Amid Heat Waves in Europe and Central Asia, concluded that in half of these cases, children died in the first year of life from heat-related illnesses. Most of the children died in the summer months.
“About half of children in Europe and Central Asia, or 92 million children, are already exposed to frequent heat waves, and temperatures in this region are rising the fastest in the world.
Exposure to ever-higher temperatures, even for a short time, can lead to serious health complications for children, especially the smallest ones. In the absence of medical attention, these complications can be life-threatening,” said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
Exposure to high temperatures has a profound effect on babies even in the womb and can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, stillbirth and congenital anomalies.
Heat stress is a direct cause of infant mortality, it can negatively affect a child’s growth and lead to a number of childhood diseases.
The document also states that extreme heat has led to the loss of more than 32 thousand years of healthy life for children and adolescents in the region.
As temperatures continue to rise, UNICEF is calling on governments in Europe and Central Asia to:
1. Ensure the integration of strategies to reduce the impact of heat waves, including through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and disaster risk reduction and management strategies, with a focus on This is a special focus on children.
2. Invest in heat health and primary care plans to better support the management of heat-related illnesses in children.
3. Invest in early warning systems, including heat warning systems.
4. To upgrade the premises of school facilities in order to reduce the temperature in places where children play, as well as to train teachers in the skills of managing heat stress.
5. Adapt urban design and infrastructure, including ensuring that buildings, especially those housing the most vulnerable populations, are properly equipped to minimize exposure to high temperatures.
6. Ensure the supply of safe water, especially in countries where the quality and availability of water is declining.
UNICEF is working with governments, partners and local communities across the region to build resilience to heatwaves. This includes training teachers, community health workers and families in the skills and knowledge needed to manage heat stress.
How is data collected?
The regional estimates are based on an analysis of data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, the latest data from the Institute for Health Metrics.
Health impact assessment is not intended to predict the incidence of disease in individuals; provide an objective assessment of population-wide health effects.
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) measure the overall impact of disease and injury on people’s lives. It is a tool that helps us understand the extent to which people’s health and lives are affected by different health problems and allows us to see the big picture of how illness and injury affect communities.
UNICEF works in extremely difficult conditions to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. The organization works in 190 countries and territories to benefit every child, everywhere, and strives to create a better world for all.
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