Surveillance of Summer Mortality and Preparedness to Reduce the Health Impact of Heat Waves in Italy

Paola Michelozzi, Francesca K. De’ Donato, Anna Maria Bargagli, Daniela D’Ippoliti, Manuela De Sario, Claudia Marino, Patrizia Schifano, Giovanna Cappai, Michela Leone, Ursula Kirchmayer, Martina Ventura, Marta Di Gennaro, Marco Leonardi, Fabrizio Oleari, Annamaria De Martino and Carlo A. Perucci
Additional contact information
Paola Michelozzi: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Francesca K. De’ Donato: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Anna Maria Bargagli: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Daniela D’Ippoliti: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Manuela De Sario: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Claudia Marino: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Patrizia Schifano: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Giovanna Cappai: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Michela Leone: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Ursula Kirchmayer: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Martina Ventura: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy
Marta Di Gennaro: Department of Civil Protection, Via Ulpiano, 11-00193 Rome, Italy
Marco Leonardi: Department of Civil Protection, Via Ulpiano, 11-00193 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Oleari: Ministry of Health, Lungotevere Ripa, 1-00153 Rome, Italy
Annamaria De Martino: Ministry of Health, Lungotevere Ripa, 1-00153 Rome, Italy
Carlo A. Perucci: Lazio Region Department of Epidemiology, Via di Santa Costanza, 53-00198 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Since 2004, the Italian Department for Civil Protection and the Ministry of Health have implemented a national program for the prevention of heat-health effects during summer, which to-date includes 34 major cities and 93% of the residents aged 65 years and over. The Italian program represents an important example of an integrated approach to prevent the impact of heat on health, comprising Heat Health Watch Warning Systems, a mortality surveillance system and prevention activities targeted to susceptible subgroups. City-specific warning systems are based on the relationship between temperature and mortality and serve as basis for the modulation of prevention measures. Local prevention activities, based on the guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health, are constructed around the infrastructures and services available. A key component of the prevention program is the identification of susceptible individuals and the active surveillance by General Practitioners, medical personnel and social workers. The mortality surveillance system enables the timely estimation of the impact of heat, and heat waves, on mortality during summer as well as to the evaluation of warning systems and prevention programs. Considering future predictions of climate change, the implementation of effective prevention programs, targeted to high risk subjects, become a priority in the public health agenda.

Keywords: heat prevention plan; heat waves; mortality; HHWWS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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