International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned that the intense heatwave sweeping across Europe could prove fatal for the most vulnerable members of society if urgent precautions are not taken.
Gatekeepers News reports that Mary Friel, the IFRC’s Senior Climate Policy Officer, while speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, said soaring temperatures posed serious health risks, both outdoors and indoors.
“The coming days pose serious health risks,” Friel said.
“For thousands of people across Europe, extreme temperatures, without action, can quickly become a matter of life and death.”
She added: “IFRC is urging people to take this heatwave seriously and to look out for those most at risk to save lives.”
The humanitarian organisation stressed that indoor heat can be just as dangerous as outdoor temperatures, particularly for people with limited mobility and existing health conditions.
“Indoor heat is often a hidden threat, especially for people with limited mobility and underlying health conditions,” Friel said.
She described heat stress as a “deadly, often a silent killer, invisible,” especially among vulnerable populations.
According to the IFRC, those facing the greatest risk include elderly people, children, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and people experiencing homelessness.
The organisation urged residents across Europe to stay informed through official heat alerts, follow guidance from local authorities and regularly check on family members, neighbours and others who may be vulnerable.
As temperatures continue to soar, national Red Cross societies have intensified emergency response efforts, including conducting home visits, operating cooling centres in urban areas, providing first aid services and distributing practical advice on staying safe during extreme heat.
“Early action saves lives and we encourage everyone to act,” Friel said.
The warning comes as an early-summer heatwave grips large parts of western Europe, prompting authorities in Britain, France, Italy and Spain to issue red alerts and public health warnings. France also recorded its hottest night on record amid the ongoing heat crisis.
Scientists have repeatedly identified recurring heatwaves as a clear consequence of global warming, warning that they are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense due to the continued burning of fossil fuels.
Friel said climate change and rising temperatures were increasingly becoming a major public health threat and “one of the defining humanitarian challenges of our time.”
