Healthcare and emergency services
Explanation of the problem
Heat stress can lead to health problems, increasing pressure on healthcare and emergency services workers (such as home care, general practitioners, ambulance services and rescue teams). The increasing pressure arises both because these workers have to provide more care and because they themselves will be affected by the heat. Moreover, during events on hot days, emergency services will be busier.
Information and maps for better understanding
Basic maps according to the standardized stress test
- Map showing the number of warm nights per year (Climate Impact Atlas) → provides insight into the number of warm nights in built-up areas, now and in the future. When it’s warm at night, buildings may not cool down sufficiently, keeping the indoor temperature high. This can lead to health problems and increase pressure on healthcare.
Additional maps
- Maps with information about vulnerable groups (such as Climate Impact Atlas|Impacts| Severely lonely people aged 75+) → to estimate where vulnerable people live and where the pressure on local healthcare and emergency services may be highest.
- Maps with information about buildings (such as construction year and energy labels) → to estimate where poorly insulated buildings are, leading to a high indoor temperature and potential health issues, thereby increasing pressure on local healthcare and emergency services.
Some measures and guidelines
- The pressure on healthcare and emergency services is mainly reduced when health problems are prevented (see measures for health problems.)
- Also, refer to the tips (in Dutch) on the knowledge platform for nursing, care, home care, and primary care.