Anticipated temperatures may reach as high as 38 degrees
In the midst of a sweltering heatwave, hospitals and nursing homes across Germany are grappling with the lack of air conditioning and effective cooling systems. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 35.4 degrees Celsius in Müllheim, 34.8 degrees Celsius in Rheinfelden, and 34.3 degrees Celsius in Trier-Zewen, making it a particularly sweaty day for both patients and staff. The German Weather Service (DWD) predicts temperatures will rise even further, with forecasts of up to around 37 degrees Celsius for Wednesday.
The German Foundation for Patient Protection has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of attention given to heat protection in hospitals and nursing homes. As a result, these facilities are relying on simple and ineffective measures such as shading and fans to alleviate the heat. The foundation warns of difficult days ahead for the more than 300,000 hospital patients and 800,000 nursing home residents due to the expected high temperatures.
The investment backlog in hospitals is a decades-long issue, with factors such as high electricity costs and regulatory concerns related to climate goals restricting the use of certain cooling technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In response, Germany is focusing on broader climate adaptation strategies such as municipal heat-health action plans and adapting building operations and protocols during heat periods in the absence of widespread air conditioning.
The city of Worms, for example, has collaborated with universities and climate organizations to create a heat-health action plan that guides local heatwave resilience efforts. This plan includes multi-scale measures to reduce heat impacts on vulnerable groups in the built environment.
While there is no sweeping installation of air conditioning in German hospitals and nursing homes so far, the approach focuses on active care and hydration protocols for at-risk individuals during heatwaves, developing municipal and regional heat-health action plans, adapting building operations and protocols during heat periods, and navigating energy pricing and climate policy constraints on air conditioning technology.
The DWD is warning of "strong heat stress" that will reach as far north as the North German Plain on Wednesday. On Thursday, meteorologists expect temperatures to rise even further, with forecasts of up to 38 degrees Celsius. Experts estimate that many hospitals and nursing homes are not adequately prepared for heat, and the federal government and states are being criticised for not taking heat protection in the 1,600 hospitals and 12,000 nursing homes seriously.
Overnight, there could be isolated showers or heavy thunderstorms in the west and northwest, offering some relief from the heat. As Germany continues to battle the heatwave, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable populations in hospitals and nursing homes.
Health-and-wellness concerns are escalating in hospitals and nursing homes due to the ongoing heatwave, with medical-conditions worsening for over 300,000 patients and 800,000 residents. The German Foundation for Patient Protection has called for immediate attention to heat protection, highlighting the inadequacy of shading and fans as the primary cooling measures.
Workplace-wellness is at risk as the lack of air conditioning exacerbates the high temperatures, making it a particularly demanding day for hospital staff who are also at risk. Science has shown that climate-change increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, causing severe environmental-science concerns.
As Germany prioritizes broader climate adaptation strategies, wealth-management entities are also being encouraged to invest in environmentally-friendly therapies-and-treatments that improve healthcare infrastructure. Finance plays a crucial role in overcoming the investment backlog, especially in implementing energy-efficient cooling systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Municipalities, such as Worms, are collaborating with universities and climate organizations to create heat-health action plans, which aim to enhance heatwave resilience and protect at-risk populations from adverse health impacts. The developments in environmental-science, when combined with effective climate policies, can foster a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
The ongoing heatwave underscores the urgent need for decisive action to address the well-being of vulnerable populations, as well as the need for innovative finance solutions and technological advancements to combat climate-change and ensure a healthy future for all.
