Published on: 2026-09-30
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 30, 2026 Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) published recommendations on Wednesday for the prevention of heat-related injuries during mass events.
Heat-related injuries during major sporting, religious, and cultural events, WHO warns, have become a serious health threat to spectators, participants, volunteers, and support staff.
The WHO data overview covers research materials published from 1980 to 2025, during which nearly half a million cases of seeking medical help at mass events were recorded, including more than 22 thousand cases of heat stress.
These studies also indicate that with proper organization of medical care, more than 90 percent of the injured can receive assistance without leaving the event site, which significantly reduces the burden on local medical institutions and emergency services.
“Extreme heat increasingly threatens people’s health and safety, as well as the uninterrupted conduct of mass events, so it must be regarded not only as a dangerous environmental factor but also as a serious organizational and managerial problem,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
According to him, one cannot rely solely on individual precautionary measures. A thorough risk assessment, heightened preparedness for emergencies, and prompt response to them help reduce the severity of the direct impact of heat on health and contribute to safer event planning under global warming conditions worldwide.
Mortality from heat exposure is increasing
According to estimates, since the 1990s, mortality due to heat exposure has increased by 63 percent and averaged 546 thousand cases annually in 2012–2021. A dangerous situation can arise from prolonged sun exposure in a crowd, lack of safe drinking water, travel fatigue, and an unfamiliar local climate.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes that since the 1950s, the frequency and intensity of periods of extreme heat, including anomalously hot weather, have increased in most regions of the planet. According to forecasts, as global warming progresses, the risk will increase with every additional rise in temperature.
Expert conclusions
The authors’ research conclusions confirm the importance of advance funding for measures to prepare and organize actions in case of dangerous temperature increases. The most effective approach involves a combination of several measures, including:
equipment for available sources of safe drinking water and toilets;
installation of cooling systems;
adjustment of the event schedule;
regulation of human flows;
measures to protect maintenance personnel;
operational situation monitoring;
adequate preparation of medical services at the event venue.
The WHO calls on government authorities, event organizers, and partners worldwide to take into account the risks associated with heat exposure when planning, preparing, and implementing health protection measures in connection with mass events.
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