‘Silent killers’: Preparing for heatwaves could save thousands of lives every year, warns Red Cross

Deadly heatwaves kill thousands of people every year - but it doesn’t have to be this way, the world’s largest humanitarian network is urging.

As temperatures soar across much of Europe this week, Spain and France are sweltering under oppressive heat.

Such mercury spikes can be deadly - globally, around 480,000 people die from extreme heat every year.

Yet heatwave fatalities are not inevitable, insists the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

“Heat waves are the silent killers of climate change, but they don’t have to be,” says Francesco Rocca, President of IFRC.

“Most heatwaves are forecast days or weeks in advance, giving ample time to act early and inform and protect the most vulnerable.”

5 billion people live in places that are prone to heatwaves around the world, and where early warning systems can predict them before they happen.

Urban planning can help minimise the devastating impact of extreme weather.

“The good news is that there are simple and low-cost actions authorities can take to prevent unnecessary deaths from heat,” says Rocca.

The C40 Cool Cities Network - which is partnering with the IFRC to raise awareness - has launched an “urban cooling toolbox.”

The toolbox is full of actions we can all take to improve our cities, such as increasing the amount of green space and painting roofs white. These measures help keep citizens cool.

Choices like these can make a huge difference, explains Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities Climate Leadership group.

“From Miami to Mumbai and Athens to Abidjan, mayors in our network are increasing green spaces, expanding cool roof programmes and collaborating on heat actions to improve resilience to rising urban heat,” he says.

“But far more work