By Asaye Bankole
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced new guidance to help governments, health authorities and event organisers prevent and manage heat-related illnesses during major sporting, religious and cultural gatherings.
The global health agency said the recommendations were developed in response to growing evidence that a large proportion of heat-related illnesses at mass gatherings can be prevented or successfully treated at the event venue when adequate preparations, risk assessments and medical response systems are put in place.
In a review of studies published between 1980 and 2025, the WHO documented almost 500,000 medical encounters linked to mass gatherings, including more than 22,000 cases of heat-related illness.
The organisation said the review showed that more than 90 per cent of patients could be treated at event locations when effective on-site medical services were properly organised.
Such arrangements, it noted, could reduce pressure on hospitals, emergency departments and ambulance services.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said extreme heat was becoming an increasing threat to public health, safety and the successful operation of large gatherings.
According to him, heat should be treated not only as an environmental danger but also as a major operational and governance issue requiring proper planning, continuous risk assessment and coordinated emergency response.
Ihekweazu said heat-related deaths had risen by an estimated 63 per cent since the 1990s, with an average of about 546,000 deaths recorded annually between 2012 and 2021.
He explained that mass gatherings could increase exposure to heat because of prolonged outdoor activities, large and crowded venues, inadequate access to drinking water, travel-related stress and visitors’ unfamiliarity with local weather conditions.
He also warned that the additional demand placed on health services during major events could make it more difficult for people suffering from heat-related conditions to receive timely medical attention.
The WHO further referenced findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which show that extreme heat and heatwaves have become more frequent and intense across most land regions since the 1950s, largely because of climate change.
The agency said further increases in global temperatures were expected to result in more frequent and severe periods of extreme heat.
The new resources, titled “Prevention and Management of Heat-Related Illness at Mass Gatherings,” draw on systematic reviews and lessons from major events held in different parts of the world.
Among other measures, the guidance recommends providing safe drinking water and adequate toilet facilities, establishing cooling infrastructure, adjusting event schedules during periods of extreme heat and improving crowd-flow management.
It also calls for stronger protection of workers, effective public communication, real-time monitoring of health conditions and properly equipped medical teams at event venues.
Ihekweazu said the recommendations take a whole-event approach, recognising that factors such as venue design, transportation, security, communication, water supply and sanitation can affect people’s ability to access cooling facilities and medical care.
The guidance covers the entire event cycle and is intended to complement national heat-health action plans, occupational health and safety regulations, emergency preparedness measures and existing clinical guidance.
The WHO urged governments, event organisers and other stakeholders to make heat-risk management an integral part of planning and preparedness for mass gatherings worldwide.
The organisation said early preparation and effective on-site response systems could help protect attendees and workers while reducing unnecessary pressure on local health and emergency services.
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