WHO releases a heat-risk tool for mass gatherings

The World Health Organization released implementation guidance on September 30 for preventing and managing heat-related illness at mass gatherings, together with a standalone risk-assessment tool. It says prolonged exposure, limited water and cooling, constrained transport and medical access can amplify heat illness, chronic-disease complications, emergency demand and operational disruption in outdoor, crowded or confined events. Organizers are asked to reassess across preparation, impact mitigation and recovery rather than checking only the day's temperature. Priorities include alert thresholds, shade and water, crowd movement, worker and volunteer protection, medical transport and communication. The document provides an operating framework; it does not replace local forecasts, venue-capacity analysis, clinical judgment or legal responsibility.