HEAT
HEAT TOOLKIT
A collection of resources on extreme heat preparedness
Heatwaves are among the deadliest natural hazards facing humanity. The threat they pose will only become more serious and more widespread as the climate crisis continues. While the effects of heat are more readily seen in cities, the livelihoods and well-being of non-urban communities can also be severely disrupted during and after periods of unusually hot weather.
This toolkit brings together resources from across the Red Cross Red Crescent Network and other partner organizations to help communities get ready for heatwaves and reduce their impacts.
Explore resources by type
Campaign Materials
Communication strategies, videos, social media guides, and posters to protect vulnerable communities from extreme heat. Available in Bengali, English, and Nepali.
Heat Risk Communication Strategies
Evidence-based guidance on designing heat messages that motivate communities to take protective action
Heat Action Day — Every Year on 2 June
An annual global day of awareness and action on extreme heat. This year's theme: indoor heat.
Guidance Materials
Guides, handbooks, and practical tools to help cities, communities, and organizations prepare for and respond to extreme heat.
Core Guides
Heatwave Guide for Cities
A practical guide for technical staff in city governments to understand heat risks, develop early warning systems, and adapt urban planning to protect residents. It offers an authoritative summary of actions cities can take to reduce heatwave dangers — from short-term response measures to long-term resilience strategies.
Heatwave Guide for Red Cross Red Crescent Branches
Based on the Heatwave Guide for Cities but tailored specifically for Red Cross Red Crescent branches, this guide focuses on practical, low-cost actions that staff and volunteers can take before, during, and after a heatwave. Most recommendations can be easily integrated into existing branch activities, making it a hands-on companion for urban heat response.
Available in Amharic, English, Indonesian, French, Dutch, Hindi, Spanish, and Swahili.
Community Cooling Centres Manual
A step-by-step manual to help RCRC National Societies and branches plan, set up, and manage community cooling centres during heatwave events. It covers how to recognize and respond to heat exhaustion, care for affected individuals, and coordinate with local authorities — complementing the Heatwave Guide for Cities and the City Heatwave Guide for RCRC Branches.
Handbook on Urban Heat Management in the Global South
Additional Guides
Extreme Heat Risk Governance Framework and Toolkit
By UNDRR / MCR2030
A flexible framework to help governments assess and strengthen extreme heat risk governance. Read More ➔
Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities
By UNEP/RMI
Encyclopedia of urban cooling solutions with 80 case studies from cities worldwide. Read More ➔
Heat and the private sector: Heatwave preparedness
By USAID / RCRC Climate Centre
Risks to worker safety and business operations, with recommendations for employers. Read More ➔
Heat in Cities: Infographics Series
By USAID / RCRC Climate Centre
Six infographics highlighting key messages on heatwave impacts, vulnerability, and risk reduction steps for cities. View the infographics ➔
Heat & Urban Environmental Issues
By USAID
Quick guides on air pollution, water quality, and solid waste during heat. Read More ➔
Indoor Heat Decision-Making
By GHHIN
Evidence and tools for protecting people from overheating in indoor environments. Read More ➔
Reporting on Heatwaves
By GHHIN
Guidance for journalists on heat health narratives and imagery that save lives. Read More ➔
First Aid for Heat
By Global First Aid Reference Centre
Video demonstration to recognize and respond to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Watch Video
Heat and Covid-19
By GHHIN
Managing health risks of extreme heat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More ➔
COVID-19 Heat Planning Checklist
By Climate Centre
Practical steps to protect staff, volunteers, and vulnerable people from extreme heat. Read More ➔
Training & Learning
Passive Urban Cooling Solutions Course
This self-paced course introduces the challenge of rising urban temperatures and practical solutions. Four modules cover urban heat effects, technical solutions and barriers, policy design, and recommendations from cities worldwide.
Case Studies & Policy Briefs
Research & Reports
Double Jeopardy: Addressing Compound Flood and Heatwave Events
Heat: Through the Eyes of the Most Vulnerable — Perceptions and Pathways to Action
Unlivable: How Cities in Europe & Central Asia Can Survive in a Hotter Future
Extreme Heat in Central and South America
A multidisciplinary report on heat risk variation, early warning coverage. key actors, and priority gaps in CSA countries.
Nepalgunj Heat Action Plan 2023
A framework for implementing, coordinating, and evaluating extreme heat action developed by Nepal Red Cross Society.
Heat Research Small Grants
Research grants to increase knowledge on heatwaves and their impact on people in low and middle-income countries.
IFRC OCHA Extreme Heat Report
Extreme Heat: Preparing for the Future Heatwaves.
USAID Technical Report: Heat Waves and Human Health
Videos
PREP for CHANGE – Protecting workers in Nicaragua
The film is showcasing the toll of heat stress on workers and world-leading protections developed in Nicaragua. The research behind this is done e.g. in the PREP project that is funded through the Belmont Forum.
Effect of Climate Change on Manual Laborers
This film showcases the effect of climate change on the occupational safety and health of manual laborers in Europe. The film is about the work of for HEAT-SHIELD, an EU funded project that addresses the negative impacts of workplace heat stress on the health and productivity of the EU workforce. HEAT-SHIELD is one of the research projects in the ENBEL network.
Heat health adaptation plans - ENBEL educational videos series
In this educational video produced by the EU project ENBEL, Dr. Francesca de’Donato from the Department of Epidemiology at the Lazio Regional Health Service in Rome, Italy, takes us through core elements of heat health adaptation plans that aims to reduce the risks for peoples’ health during heat waves and extreme temperatures.
Protecting workers in a changing climate - ENBEL educational videos series
In this educational video made by the EU-funded ENBEL project, CEO and founder of La Isla Network, Jason Glaser, talks about why we should be concerned about workers in a warming climate, what happens to these workers and their health and what we can do about it.
More Resources
Multiple organizations have created guidance to help families prepare for extreme heat.
Check out the latest
News & stories
The ‘Can’t Take the Heat’ podcast explores how people will adapt to a warming world. The podcast features experts from around the world including leading scientists developing climate solutions, and humanitarian volunteers telling stories of climate change from the frontlines of disasters.
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