Caldo e Salute

Features Caldo e Salute

HEAT and HEALTH - National plan to prevent the effects of heat on healthThe National Plan for the prevention of the effects of heat on health was launched by the Ministry of Health in 2005, through specific projects of the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM), and is coordinated by the DPC National Competence Center at the Department of Epidemiology Lazio Asl Roma 1 - SSR Lazio Region.
Since 2009, the Plan is included in the Central Actions of the CCM Programs and Projects.Through the creation of a centralized forecasting system and measures to prevent the effects of heat on health, the project has defined a network of services and activities for public health aimed at socio-health operators involved in responding to this risk factor.The Plan includes the regional capitals and cities with over 250,000 inhabitants, for a total of 34 Italian cities.The main components of the plan are: city-specific warning systems capable of predicting the occurrence of meteorological conditions at risk for health; national guidelines to support the definition of local prevention activities; identification of susceptible population subgroups; training of social and health personnel on the risks associated with extreme events and on the prevention measures to be adopted; a daily mortality surveillance system (SiSMG) and access to the emergency room in sentinel facilities that allow the impact of extreme events to be monitored quickly; health recommendations associated with heat in subgroups of the population most at risk (the elderly, people with chronic diseases associated with heat, pregnant women, children, outdoor workers).In order to disseminate information and improve response, the "Heat and Health" application allows you to consult the HHWW alarm bulletins and view the Ministerial guidelines and the prevention services adopted in the cities included in the project (local prevention plans, toll-free numbers, information material).
In addition, for the different population subgroups at risk during heat waves, health recommendations can be consulted.