GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization has released new guidance to help countries and event organizers reduce heat-related illness at mass gatherings. The recommendations cover major sporting, religious and cultural events. They focus on protecting spectators, workers, volunteers and other participants exposed to high temperatures. An evidence review behind the guidance examined studies published between 1980 and 2025. Those studies recorded nearly 500,000 medical encounters, including more than 22,000 cases linked to heat.
The findings show that well-prepared medical teams can treat most patients without sending them to hospitals. More than 90% of patients received care at event sites when organizers had adequate medical systems in place. On-site treatment can ease pressure on emergency departments and ambulance services during crowded events. The guidance therefore places medical readiness alongside water access, cooling, sanitation and crowd management. It also calls for stronger coordination between public health teams and event operators.
Heat has become a growing health concern in many regions. The guidance states that heat-related deaths have risen by an estimated 63% since the 1990s. It also cites an average of 546,000 heat-related deaths each year from 2012 through 2021. Large gatherings can increase exposure because people often remain outdoors for long periods. Dense crowds, limited movement and high physical activity can also increase strain during periods of extreme heat.
Heat safeguards become part of event planning
The recommendations call for safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and cooling areas at venues. Organizers should also consider event schedules, crowd movement and worker protections when temperatures rise. Public communication forms another part of the planning process. Health surveillance can help officials detect signs of heat illness as events unfold. Prepared medical teams can then respond at the venue. The World Health Organization says heat safety should form part of wider event operations instead of relying mainly on individual precautions.
The new package also includes an implementation manual and a heat-risk assessment tool. These resources support structured planning before events and continued monitoring while gatherings are under way. The framework covers preparation, risk reduction and recovery. It can also connect with existing emergency plans and occupational safety procedures. Organizers can use the material alongside national heat-health plans where those systems already exist. The guidance applies across different event sizes and formats rather than focusing on one type of gathering.
Evidence strengthens focus on early prevention
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that hot extremes have become more frequent and intense across most land regions since the 1950s. That trend increases the importance of heat planning at events where large crowds gather outdoors. Older adults and people with chronic health conditions can face greater heat risks. People taking part in strenuous activity may also need added protection. Workers and volunteers can remain exposed for long periods while supporting security, medical care, transport and other event services.
The guidance places heat preparedness within broader public health and emergency planning for mass gatherings. It encourages authorities and organizers to assess conditions before, during and after each event. The recommended measures include water, cooling, surveillance, communications and medical readiness. They also cover sanitation, worker safety and crowd operations. The overall approach focuses on prevention and timely care at the event site. It is designed for sporting competitions, festivals, religious gatherings and other large events where high temperatures can create health risks.