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.
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