Heat can have major health effects. Climate change has caused increasingly longer periods of heat in the Netherlands, including the likelihood of extreme heat. RIVM started a research on how Dutch people receive and understand the current communication from the National Heatwave Plan. The researchers also studied whether this communication motivates people to protect themselves against heat. In addition, an alternative infographic with the core message ‘Look after each other when its hot’ has been developed and tested.

Inthis study, RIVM conducted a survey among a representative section of the Dutch population at the beginning and end of the summer of 2024. The survey showed that Dutch people are aware of the possible negative effects of heat on health, particularly for vulnerable people. They think that informing the public about heat through the National Heatwave Plan is useful.

Most people in vulnerable health expect that they will change their behaviour to protect themselves against heat when the National Heatwave Plan is activated. Around half of Dutch people say they will pay extra attention to people with vulnerable health in their vicinity when the heatwave plan is activated. The alternative  infographic also motivates people who do not give care as part of their daily life still pay extra attention to people with vulnerable health in their vicinity.