<\/p>\n
The WHO reviewed studies published between 1980 and 2025, covering almost 500 000 medical encounters at mass gatherings.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More than 22 000 heat-related illnesses were documented. However, well-organised medical systems allowed over 90% of patients to be treated at event venues, reducing pressure on hospitals and ambulance services. \u201cExtreme heat is an increasing threat to health, safety and operational continuity in mass gatherings, and must be addressed not only as an environmental hazard but as a core operational and governance challenge,\u201d WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cProtection cannot rely on individual behaviour alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ihekweazu said consistent risk assessment, preparedness and response could reduce immediate harm and support safer event planning as global temperatures rose.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Heat-related deaths have increased by an estimated 63% since the 1990s. An average of 546 000 deaths occurred annually between 2012 and 2021.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mass gatherings can intensify risks because attendees, workers and volunteers may spend long periods outdoors in dense crowds with limited access to safe water and cooling.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Travel-related stress, unfamiliar weather conditions and competing demands on healthcare services can further increase the danger.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that heatwaves and other hot extremes have become more frequent and intense across most land regions since the 1950s, largely because of climate change.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WHO\u2019s new guidance recommends accessible drinking water and toilets, cooling infrastructure, adjusted schedules and better crowd-flow management.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Organisers should also protect workers, provide clear public information, monitor conditions in real time and establish adequately staffed medical services at venues.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WHO said heat preparedness should cover the entire event cycle, including venue design, transport, sanitation, security, communications and emergency planning.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The guidance applies to spectators, attendees, volunteers and workers and should complement national heat-health action plans, occupational safety requirements and clinical protocols.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
WHO called on governments, organisers and partners to incorporate heat-risk management into planning for all mass gatherings. \u201cThe whole-of-event approach\u201d would help ensure people had timely access to cooling, safe water and medical care before temperatures became dangerous, WHO said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–WHO\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":43935,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[26],"class_list":["post-46932","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Heat-related illness has become a significant risk at major sporting, religious and cultural events, but most cases can be prevented or treated at venues, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.","published_date":"","news_description":"Heat-related illness has become a significant risk at major sporting, religious and cultural events, but most cases can be prevented or treated at venues, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46933,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/46932\/revisions\/46933"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=46932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}