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6.2.5.2 Emilia-Romagna Regional Government Coordination Actions
Emilia-Romagna Regional Government coordinates actions to assist people groups
who are most exposed to heat waves, through Health Care regional system, Civil
Protection, non-profit sector. These actions are activated by the ARPA alert system
and they include two main activities:
1. Home care assistance:
– Set up and coordination of Local Networks of all the actors involved in home
care assistance, i.e.: Local Health Authorities (AUSL), City Councils,
Voluntary associations;
– Map High Risk Groups to be monitored during Heat Waves Alert, i.e.:elder
people [>75 Y/old] living alone at home (in particular Local Health Authorities
are obliged to notify all cases of elder people discharged from hospital in
summer period and living alone), disabled people;
– To strengthen home care assistance services, using all possible collaborations
with Civil Protection volunteers and non-profit associations active in
welfare.
2. Information actions
It has been shown that information on potential threats can be extremely useful
in preparing the public for adverse events, as well as facilitating the response when
such events occur. Starting form this assumption, a strong effort has been dedicated
to produce an effective communication to citizens regarding heat waves effect on
health and practical suggestions to prevent heatstroke.
In particular specific information contents have been prepared on:
– Heat effect on Health: direct effect (sunstroke, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat
cramps), indirect effect (i.e. health condition worsening of people weakened by
physical or psychological diseases), risk groups (elderly people, children, people
affected by specific diseases – diabetes, cardiovascular disease…);
– Practical suggestions to prevent Heatstroke: telling how to limit the discomfort
(what to eat/drink and what not, most dangerous day time, how to dress, how to
manage home air conditioning…); telling what to do in emergency case (symptoms, 1st aid, who to call…). All this information are spread out both through
the specific web platform on Heatwave managed by ARPA ER (http://www.
arpa.emr.it) and through specific awareness campaigns managed by Local
Health Authorities, addressing the specific high risk groups. (i.e. leaflets have
been created by local health governments and addressed to home care staff,
informing them on what to do in case of heat waves, what to eat, how to dress,
relation with medicines, how to behave at home and outside, early warning
signs of a heat stroke).
6 UHI in the Metropolitan Cluster of Bologna-Modena...
6.2.5.2 Emilia-Romagna Regional Government Coordination Actions
Emilia-Romagna Regional Government coordinates actions to assist people groups
who are most exposed to heat waves, through Health Care regional system, Civil
Protection, non-profit sector. These actions are activated by the ARPA alert system
and they include two main activities:
1. Home care assistance:
– Set up and coordination of Local Networks of all the actors involved in home
care assistance, i.e.: Local Health Authorities (AUSL), City Councils,
Voluntary associations;
– Map High Risk Groups to be monitored during Heat Waves Alert, i.e.:elder
people [>75 Y/old] living alone at home (in particular Local Health Authorities
are obliged to notify all cases of elder people discharged from hospital in
summer period and living alone), disabled people;
– To strengthen home care assistance services, using all possible collaborations
with Civil Protection volunteers and non-profit associations active in
welfare.
2. Information actions
It has been shown that information on potential threats can be extremely useful
in preparing the public for adverse events, as well as facilitating the response when
such events occur. Starting form this assumption, a strong effort has been dedicated
to produce an effective communication to citizens regarding heat waves effect on
health and practical suggestions to prevent heatstroke.
In particular specific information contents have been prepared on:
– Heat effect on Health: direct effect (sunstroke, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat
cramps), indirect effect (i.e. health condition worsening of people weakened by
physical or psychological diseases), risk groups (elderly people, children, people
affected by specific diseases – diabetes, cardiovascular disease…);
– Practical suggestions to prevent Heatstroke: telling how to limit the discomfort
(what to eat/drink and what not, most dangerous day time, how to dress, how to
manage home air conditioning…); telling what to do in emergency case (symptoms, 1st aid, who to call…). All this information are spread out both through
the specific web platform on Heatwave managed by ARPA ER (http://www.
arpa.emr.it) and through specific awareness campaigns managed by Local
Health Authorities, addressing the specific high risk groups. (i.e. leaflets have
been created by local health governments and addressed to home care staff,
informing them on what to do in case of heat waves, what to eat, how to dress,
relation with medicines, how to behave at home and outside, early warning
signs of a heat stroke).
6 UHI in the Metropolitan Cluster of Bologna-Modena...