HSE Issues Urgent Heatwave Health Guidance as Temperatures Hit 30°C and Vulnerable Groups Face Serious Risk
The Health Service Executive has issued urgent public health guidance as Ireland's ongoing heatwave pushes temperatures to 30°C across many counties, urging the public to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, to keep hydrated, and to take particular care of elderly people, young children, and those with underlying health conditions — groups for whom extreme heat poses a genuine and potentially life-threatening risk.
Background
Ireland's public health system has been developing its response to heatwave events over the past decade, as the increasing frequency of extreme heat episodes has made it clear that the country needs a more systematic approach to protecting vulnerable populations during periods of high temperature. The HSE's heatwave guidance, which is updated and reissued each summer, draws on international best practice and on the specific characteristics of the Irish population and climate.
The challenge of communicating heatwave health risks in Ireland is complicated by the country's cultural relationship with warm weather. For a population accustomed to cool, wet summers, the arrival of genuinely hot weather is often experienced as a cause for celebration rather than concern, and the instinct to spend as much time as possible outdoors in the sunshine can override awareness of the health risks associated with prolonged heat exposure.
The HSE's guidance is therefore as much about changing behaviour as it is about providing information. The key messages — stay indoors during peak heat hours, keep hydrated, wear loose clothing, use sunscreen, check on vulnerable neighbours — are simple but require active effort to follow, particularly for people who are not accustomed to thinking about heat as a health hazard.
Key Developments
The HSE's heatwave guidance, issued on July 15 and updated on July 16, advises the public to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when temperatures are at their highest and the risk of heat stress and sunburn is greatest. The guidance recommends wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, drinking water regularly even when not feeling thirsty, and staying in shaded or air-conditioned environments during the hottest part of the day.
Specific advice has been issued for vulnerable groups. Elderly people, who are at particular risk from heat-related illness because of reduced ability to regulate body temperature, are advised to keep their homes cool by closing curtains and blinds during the day and opening windows at night. People with chronic health conditions — including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory conditions — are advised to monitor their symptoms carefully and to seek medical advice if they experience dizziness, confusion, or other signs of heat stress.
Community organisations across Ireland have been activating emergency protocols in response to the heatwave. In Kerry, the Buds Family Centre has activated its emergency response system — typically used for winter storms — to provide its Meals on Wheels clients with lighter meals and to assist with shopping for those who cannot go out in the heat. Similar initiatives have been reported in Cork, Galway, and Dublin, where community groups are checking on elderly and vulnerable residents.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has used the occasion of the heatwave to renew his call for the removal of VAT on suncream, describing it as an essential health product rather than a luxury item. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, and the cost of suncream — which carries the standard 23 per cent VAT rate — has been cited as a barrier to its use, particularly among lower-income families.
Why It Matters
The HSE's heatwave guidance matters because heat-related illness is a genuine and preventable cause of death and serious illness. In European heatwaves of recent years — most notably the 2003 heatwave that killed an estimated 70,000 people across the continent — the majority of deaths occurred among elderly people living alone who were not adequately supported during the period of extreme heat. Ireland has not experienced a heatwave of that severity, but the risk is real and growing as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events.
The VAT on suncream issue raised by Tóibín is a legitimate public health concern. Ireland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in Europe, driven by a combination of fair skin, outdoor lifestyle, and historically low awareness of sun protection. The cost of suncream is a genuine barrier for some families, and the removal of VAT — which would reduce the price by approximately 19 per cent — could have a meaningful impact on usage rates, particularly among children.
The activation of community emergency protocols in response to the heatwave is also significant. It demonstrates that Ireland's community and voluntary sector has the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to public health emergencies, and it highlights the importance of maintaining and investing in that sector as a complement to the formal health system.
Local Impact
In Dublin, the heatwave has placed particular pressure on the city's older population, many of whom live in older housing stock that is poorly insulated and difficult to keep cool. Dublin City Council has opened its libraries and community centres as cool spaces for residents who need relief from the heat, and the council's social care team has been conducting welfare checks on elderly residents in the most affected areas.
In rural areas, where community networks are often the primary support system for elderly and vulnerable people, the response has been led by local community groups, GAA clubs, and parish organisations. In many rural communities, the informal networks of neighbours checking on neighbours have been activated, demonstrating the resilience and solidarity that characterise rural Irish life at its best.
What's Next
The HSE has indicated that its heatwave guidance will remain in place for as long as the current warm spell persists. The agency is monitoring the situation closely and will update its advice if conditions change. The Department of Health has been asked to consider whether the current heatwave response framework is adequate and whether additional resources should be made available to community organisations that are supporting vulnerable people during the hot weather. A review of Ireland's heatwave preparedness is expected to be included in the Department's autumn work programme.
