Rising heat in Europe and Central Asia kills nearly 400 children a year

Rising temperatures in Europe and Central Asia caused the death of about 377 children in 2021according to a new analysis of data from 23 countries published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Beating the heat: Child health in the face of heatwaves in Europe and Central Asia concludes that half of these children died of heat-related illnesses in their first year of life, most during the summer months.

“Around half of children in Europe and Central Asia (92 million) are exposed to frequent heat waves in a region where temperatures are rising at the fastest rate in the world,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.

Regina De Dominicis added that increasingly high temperatures can have serious health complications for children, especially the youngest ones, even in a short period. “Without attention, these complications can be life-threatening,” she stressed.

Effects of heat

Exposure to heat has acute effects on infants, even before birth, and can cause premature births, low birth weight, stillbirths and birth defectsHeat stress is a direct cause of infant mortality, can affect infant growth and cause various pediatric diseases.

The report also notes that extreme heat caused the loss of more than 32,000 years of healthy life among children and adolescents in the region.

recommendations

As temperatures continue to rise, UNICEF is urging governments across Europe and Central Asia to:

• Integrate strategies to reduce the impact of heat waves, including through Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and disaster risk reduction and disaster management policies, with children at the centre of these plans
• Invest in heat health action plans and primary health care to better support heat-related illnesses among children
• Invest in early warning systems, including heat warning systems
• Adapt educational facilities to reduce temperatures in areas where children play and train teachers to respond to heat stress
• Adapt urban design and infrastructure, ensuring that buildings, especially those housing the most vulnerable communities, are equipped to minimize heat exposure
• Ensure the supply of drinking water, especially in countries where water quality and availability are deteriorating

UNICEF said it is working with governments, partners and communities across the region to increase resilience to heat waves. This includes equipping teachers, community health workers and families with the skills and knowledge needed to respond to temperature shocks.