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Hospitals gear up for Europe's next heat wave armed with lessons from this one
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- French hospitals, including Paris-Saclay Hospital, faced urgent shortages of ice to treat heat stroke patients during a record-breaking heat wave, highlighting unpreparedness for extreme heat events.
- The French government announced a €100 million plan to install cooling systems and purchase 30,000 air-conditioning units for health facilities to better handle future heat waves.
- Medical staff treated a surge of heat-related emergencies such as heart attacks, dehydration, and kidney failure, affecting all age groups and overwhelming hospital resources.
- Older hospital buildings without adequate cooling required temporary measures like fans and ice blocks to preserve medicines and care for patients, prompting urgent upgrades and renovations.
- Health officials and the World Health Organization warn that heat waves will become more frequent and severe due to climate change, necessitating ongoing adaptation in healthcare infrastructure.
