The World Health Organisation, WHO, has released new guidance to help governments and event organisers prevent and manage heat-related illnesses during major sporting, religious and cultural gatherings.
The guidance follows a review of studies covering nearly 500,000 medical encounters at mass gatherings, including more than 22,000 cases of heat-related illness. WHO said over 90 per cent of patients can be treated at event venues when on-site medical systems are properly organised.
The recommendations include providing safe drinking water and toilets, cooling facilities, adjusting event schedules and improving crowd-flow management.
WHO also called for real-time health surveillance, public communication, workforce protection and well-equipped on-site medical services to strengthen preparedness for extreme heat.
