Briefing: Heatwaves and public health

This report's objective is to define and divulgate the knowledge about heat stress and health consequences in general for the Turkish population. The Environment, Climate and Health Cooperation Project (ÇİSİP in Turkish) was launched by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), HASUDER (Association of Public Health Professionals-Turkey) and Kocaeli University Department of Public Health in April 2020. Funded by the European Union, CISIP’s aim is to bring together all environmental health actors in Turkey and to support health professionals in the fields of environmental and climate policies.

Specific recommendations to healthcare professionals include:

• There should be awareness raising and capacity building for family physicians or general practicioners, emergency doctors and other healthcare professionals on heatwaves and their impacts. It is important that the health system is prepared for a severe heatwave.
• Provincial Health Directorates, and Public Health Directorates in particular, should develop and implement programs to prevent and protect the public from the health effects of heatwaves as they will continue to increase.
• Provincial Health Directorates should work together with Provincial Meteorology Directorates, local governments and other related institutions to develop and implement heatwave response plans.