Weather - DAK: Severe stress for employees due to heat
More than two-thirds of employed people in Bavaria feel limited in their performance on hot days, according to the DAK-Gesundheit Health Report 2024. This was revealed when people were asked about their experiences during the heatwave in the summer of 2023. Nearly a quarter found extremely high temperatures during work to be very taxing, and 17.8% suffered from health issues. Most still went to work despite this. Additionally, there are more work absences due to heart-circulatory diseases with rising temperatures. The heat is also very challenging for people in care homes.
To protect the elderly and sick, the Social Welfare Association VdK in Bavaria called for action plans in all cities and municipalities and a crisis concept. There are initial ideas and steps, but only in a few communities is such a plan in place. In previous summers, thousands of people in Germany have died in connection with the heat. The particularly endangered lived in regions with high poverty rates.
"Bavaria is gearing up strongly against heatwaves, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change," said Health Minister Judith Gerlach (CSU). "Heat days with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius have increased threefold compared to the 1950s. 'With the temperatures, health risks increase, for example for skin cancer due to increased UV radiation or for the heart-circulatory system due to the heat. Children, elderly women and men, and heart-circulatory pre-diseased individuals are particularly affected,' warned the Minister."
The Bavarian Medical Chamber expects more deaths during heatwaves. This is also due to the fact that the population is getting older. At the same time, there could be fewer cold-related deaths if winters are milder.
DAK-Gesundheitsreport
- Despite the challenges posed by the heat during work, the majority of employed individuals in Bavaria still choose to continue their duties, as noted in the DAK-Gesundheit Health Report 2024.
- In an effort to safeguard the elderly and vulnerable, the Social Welfare Association VdK in Bavaria advocated for the implementation of action plans and a crisis concept in all cities and municipalities.
- According to Health Minister Judith Gerlach from Bavaria, the number of heat days with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius has tripled compared to the 1950s, posing increased health risks, especially for children, the elderly, women, men, and those with heart-circulatory issues.
- As a result of climate change, Bavaria is experiencing more frequent heatwaves, and the Bavarian Medical Chamber forecasts a potential increase in heatwave-related deaths due to an aging population.
