Extreme Weather Events and Public Health Responses

The Climate Dilemma.- Projected Changes in Extreme Weather and Climate Events in Europe.- Is the Frequency and Intensity of Flooding Changing in Europe?.- Bio-climatological Aspects of Summer 2003 Over France.- Improving Public Health Responses to Extreme Weather Events.- Cold Extremes and Impacts on Health.- Temperature Regulation, Heat Balance and Climatic Stress.- Health Impact of the 2003 Heat-Wave in France.- Portugal, Summer 2003 Mortality: the Heat Waves Influence.- The Effect of Temperature and Heat Waves on Daily Mortality in Budapest, Hungary, 1970 – 2000.- Epidemiologic Study of Mortality During Summer 2003 in Italian Regional Capitals: Results of a Rapid Survey.- Heat Waves in Italy: Cause Specific Mortality and the Role of Educational Level and Socio-Economic Conditions.- Lessons of the 2003 Heat-Wave in France and Action Taken to Limit the Effects of Future Heat-Waves.- Examples of Heat Health Warning Systems: Lisbon’s ÍCARO’s Surveillance System, Summer of 2003.- Lessons from the Heat-Wave Epidemic in France (Summer 2003).- How Toronto and Montreal (Canada) Respond to Heat.- Lessons to be Learned from the 2002 Floods in Dresden, Germany.- The Human Health Consequences of Flooding in Europe: a Review.- Mortality in Flood Disasters.- Key Policy Implications of the Health Effects of Floods.- Learning From Experience: Evolving Responses to Flooding Events in the United Kingdom.- Extreme Weather Events in Bulgaria for the Period 2001 – 03 and Responses to Address Them.- 2002 — A Year of Calamities. The Romanian Experience.- A System of Medical Service to Assist the Population of Uzbekistan in the Case of Natural Catastrophes.- Moscow Smog of Summer 2002. Evaluation of Adverse Health Effects.- Extreme Weather Events: What can We do to Prevent HealthImpacts?.- Public Health Response to Extreme Weather and Climate Events.- Follow-up Programme on the Influence of Meteorological Changes Upon Cardiac Patients.

From the reviews:
"Extreme weather events and public health responses documents prominent incidents discussed at an international meeting that took place in Bratislava on 9-10 February 2004 … . Experts from 25 countries outlined their experiences and resources in the field of extreme weather events and climate change. The book comprises a compilation of case studies from different countries. … it is a stimulating catalogue of information that can be recommended as a valuable resource for anyone contemplating carrying out much needed research in this field." (Manfred Wildner, Journal of Public Health, Vol. 14, 2006)

In February 2004, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Environment Agency organized an expert meeting to exchange information and develop recommendations on public health and environmental responses to weather and climate extremes, floods, heat-waves and cold spells. The meeting was kindly hosted by the Ministry of Health of Slovakia. The meeting recommendations were adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Budapest, Hungary, 2004.
This book reflects a collection of case studies and experiences of experts, ministries and international organizations. It gives an overview of various topics, such as:
- Will climate change alter climate variability?
- The 2003 European heat-wave
- The health impacts of temperature extremes
- Public health responses to temperature extremes
- The health impacts of floods
- Case studies on health system responses to extreme events

Cooperation between WHO, European Commission, European Environment Agency and European Public Health Association 27 experts from many European countries Country case studies and presentations Very topical themes following floods in 2002 and heat waves 2003 Practical conclusions for implementing future safeguards against natural disasters