WHO Issues New Guidance to Protect People from Heat-Related Illness at Mass Gatherings

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new set of recommendations to help governments and event organisers prevent and manage heat-related illness during large gatherings. The guidance covers sporting, religious and cultural events, where high temperatures, large crowds and prolonged outdoor exposure can create additional health risks.

The recommendations are based on an evidence review covering studies published between 1980 and 2025. The review documented almost half a million medical encounters at mass gatherings, including more than 22,000 cases of heat-related illness. It also found that well-organised medical services can manage more than 90 per cent of patients at the event site, reducing pressure on nearby hospitals and ambulance services.

WHO has called for heat preparedness to begin before temperatures reach dangerous levels. Its recommended measures include providing easily accessible drinking water and toilets, installing suitable cooling facilities, adjusting event schedules where necessary and managing crowd movement effectively.

The guidance also addresses the protection of workers and volunteers, along with public communication and real-time monitoring of heat-related risks. On-site medical teams are identified as another important part of event preparedness.

The WHO has emphasised that heat management should not depend solely on individual precautions. Factors such as venue design, transportation, sanitation, crowd density, security arrangements and access to medical care can all affect the level of risk faced by attendees.

The new resources include systematic reviews, implementation guidance, a heat-risk assessment tool and evidence-based communication recommendations. WHO advises organisers to incorporate heat-risk management throughout the entire event cycle, from preparation and risk reduction to response and recovery.

The guidance is intended to complement existing national heat-health action plans, occupational safety requirements, emergency preparedness systems and clinical protocols.

30-09-2026