Different approaches: countries disagree in the creation of heat protection plans

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Bundesgesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) arbeitet derzeit an einem bundesweiten Hitzeschutzplan. Eine Umfrage des Evangelischen Pressedienstes (epd) unter den Gesundheitsministerien der Länder ergab jedoch, dass nur die Hälfte der 16 Bundesländer eigene Konzepte zum Hitzeschutz plant. Die andere Hälfte sieht zunächst die Kommunen in der Verantwortung. Die Gesundheitsministerien in Bayern und Baden-Württemberg betonen, dass Hitzeaktionspläne nur dann effizient sind, wenn sie an die örtliche Situation angepasst sind. Der bayerische Gesundheitsminister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) erklärte, dass der Hitzeschutz in verschiedenen Städten unterschiedlich gestaltet werden müsse. Ähnlich äußerten sich auch die zuständigen Landesministerien in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Sachsen und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Dennoch versprechen …
Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is currently working on a nationwide heat protection plan. However, a survey by the Evangelical Press Service (EPD) among the Health Minister of the federal states showed that only half of the 16 federal states are planning their own concepts for heat protection. The other half initially sees the municipalities. The Ministries of Health in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg emphasize that heat action plans are only efficient if they are adapted to the local situation. The Bavarian Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU) said that heat protection in different cities had to be designed differently. The responsible state ministries in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were similar. Still promise ... (Symbolbild/MB)

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is currently working on a nationwide heat protection plan. However, a survey by the Evangelical Press Service (EPD) among the Health Minister of the federal states showed that only half of the 16 federal states are planning their own concepts for heat protection. The other half first sees the municipalities.

The Minister of Health in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg emphasize that heat action plans are only efficient if they are adapted to the local Situation. The Bavarian Minister of Health Klaus Holetschek (CSU) said that heat protection in different cities had to be designed differently. The responsible state ministries in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were similar. Nevertheless, many countries promise support in creating heat protection plans for the municipalities. These plans should primarily protect endangered population groups such as children, the elderly and the sick from health consequences of the heat.

So far,

Hessen is the only federal state that has already developed a comprehensive heat protection plan. The concept presented in February contains a heat warning system and recommendations for dealing with heat. In addition, information was sent to clinics, practices and nursing staff. The Ministry of Health in Saxony-Anhalt created a model heat action plan especially for older and needy people in June.

Six other federal states are currently working on heat protection plans or planning their creation. The Saarland wants to present its plan in September, Bremen is planning this by the end of the year at the latest. Hamburg plans to complete its heat protection plan by autumn 2024, while Rhineland-Palatinate, Berlin and Thuringia indicate the year 2025 as a target mark for its own plan.

The planned measures include the installation of public drinking water fountains, the promotion of shadow spaces in kindergartens and other public facilities as well as the creation of cool rooms. Cities also rely on the greening of areas and the creation of more green areas to create cooler air. Some cities, including Hamburg, have set up a "heat phone" this summer, which you can contact for tips on dealing with high temperatures and strong UV loads.

The Robert Koch Institute estimates that there were around 1,500 heat-related deaths by mid-July of this year. The number varies from year to year. In 2018, with its extremely hot summer, over 8,000 heat -related deaths were estimated, while there were fewer than 2,000 in 2021. Last year, according to estimates, around 4,500 people were the heat victims. Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach refers to his own study and spoke of up to 8,000 heat deaths last year alone. The figures mentioned illustrate the need for effective heat protection plans and measures to avoid heat -related health problems and deaths.