Heat Action Day
Join us on 2 June to #BeatTheHeat
Heatwaves around the world make headlines each year for their debilitating effects. In more and more places, “a few hot days” are stretching into weeks-long spells that now define entire summers. Yet, there are simple actions we can take to protect ourselves, families and our communities.
Until Heat Action Day 2025
What is Heat Action Day (HAD)?
Launched by the IFRC in 2022, Heat Action Day (HAD) is a global day of awareness and action on extreme heat — an increasingly frequent, intense, and deadly threat worldwide. Led Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and partners, HAD mobilizes cities, communities, and organizations around the world to take simple yet life-saving steps to protect people from heat-related illnesses.
While June 2 may not align with peak heat everywhere, a single, coordinated day helps create a powerful global moment, amplifying attention and inspiring communities to prepare, respond, and #BeatTheHeat.
See inspiring examples from past HAD events around the world.
2025 HAD Theme: Recognizing and responding to heat stroke
Heatwaves are silent killers. Many people don’t recognize the signs until it’s too late. That’s why the theme of Heat Action Day 2025 is “How to Recognize Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.”
This year, we’re focusing on helping everyone understand the warning signs and how to respond quickly and effectively. We invite you to engage your local community, creatively and accessibly, to raise awareness and share life-saving knowledge. Find out how you can get involved.
How to Participate
From quick social media posts to city-wide events, there are countless ways to take part in Heat Action Day depending on your time, capacity, and resources. Below are just a few examples based on different levels of effort. This truly is a “choose your own adventure” type of international engagement!
"light" activities
No/low resources, little preparation needed
"Medium" activities
Medium resources required, start preparing activities 3-4 weeks in advance, no to little budget required.
"Advanced" activities
High resources required, start preparing activities 4-6 weeks in advance.
For more activity ideas and guidance on how to get started, explore our step-by-step participation guide with detailed instructions and tips.
Prefer a downloadable version? Use the buttons below to download a PDF version of the Guide.
Register Your Interest in Heat Action Day 2025
Please fill out this form below to let us know you’re planning to participate. By registering your interest, you'll receive updates, planning resources, and inspiration to help make your Heat Action Day a success.
Please note that even if you have participated in Heat Action Day before, you do need to register again for this year. Please share with us what you have planned, and join the Info Sessions!
Useful Resources & Templates
Planning your Heat Action Day activity is easier with the right tools at your fingertips. Explore the materials, resources and and templates to help you get started and amplify your message.
Join the HAD Trello board to access templates for promotional materials, including posters, flyers, and social media graphics. And SHARE your own materials with others.
HAD Banner
Social Media Assets
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Additional Resources
Past HAD Highlights
Heat action day 2024: cool urban art
In 2024, over 180 organizations and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies registered to take part in Heat Action Day, embracing the year’s theme of Urban Art. Activities ranged from public art-making sessions and contests to parades, live announcements, regional webinars, and community engagement events.
Explore highlights and photos from around the world in the 2024 Story Book, and see a detailed breakdown of activities in the Summary Report.
Heat action day 2023
Heat Action Day 2023 marked the second global event organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to raise awareness about the growing risks of extreme heat driven by climate change. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in over 50 cities worldwide took part in the day through a wide range of activities — from public awareness campaigns and distribution of cooling resources to educational workshops and community outreach.
In Bangladesh, for example, volunteers used local dialects to deliver creative performances — from poetry and comedy to dance and drama — to capture attention and share life-saving information about heat risks.
Heat action day 2022
Heat Action Day 2022 marked the first global observance launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to raise awareness about the rising risks of extreme heat linked to climate change. Held on June 14, 2022, the event coincided with unprecedented early-season heatwaves across Europe, the United States, and South Asia, highlighting the urgent need to address heat-related health threats.
Watch this video to see a global snapshot of the heat actions carried out around the world.
Organizing Partners
