Luxembourg spent an entire week under a red alert because of extreme heat.
Emergency services, hospitals, and care staff have faced considerable pressure in recent days. However, after a week of red heat alerts, High Commissioner for National Protection Guy Bley gave a broadly positive assessment during an interview with RTL.
Bley said people had received help in time because the authorities began preparing for the forecasted heatwave as early as 17 June.
Since the previous weekend, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) had recorded around 70% more call-outs per day than usual, mainly involving medical emergencies.
Emergency services were reinforced ahead of Luxembourg's National Day, with additional ambulances provided by the army, the Luxembourg Red Cross, and private operator Luxambulance. Bley also said the Health Directorate had activated its internal heatwave response plan on 18 June, placing greater emphasis on support for vulnerable people.
Asked whether Luxembourg's emergency services could cope if heatwaves of this severity became more frequent, Bley acknowledged that the past week had exposed the strain such events can place on the system.
"This week showed how quickly we can reach our limits", he said, explaining that responding to extreme heat required a very large number of resources.
According to Bley, the CGDIS mobilised all of its ambulances and sought additional support from its regular partner organisations. International assistance had also been requested as a precaution for National Day, although it was ultimately not needed, he said.
Hospitals experienced periods of heightened pressure during the week, particularly in southern Luxembourg. Bley said the situation had eased somewhat over the weekend, although the Health Directorate continued to monitor developments and remained in regular contact with hospitals.
Like the CGDIS, hospitals brought in additional staff and resources so that they would be prepared for a possible rise in admissions.
Bley said there had been no serious shortages or bottlenecks. He attributed this both to the early preparations made by the authorities and to members of the public following official recommendations.
"I think we must also thank the public", Bley said, adding that people's behaviour had helped prevent more serious difficulties.
Bley was also asked whether the authorities had reacted too late after a 75-year-old homeless man died at the Gare district in Luxembourg City during the heatwave.
Bley rejected that suggestion, pointing out that the relevant services had begun coordinating their response on 17 June and that the Health Directorate had activated its heatwave plan the following day. He nevertheless said he could not comment on the individual case because he did not know its circumstances in sufficient detail.
It is not yet known whether the heatwave caused excess mortality in Luxembourg. Bley said this could only be established over the coming weeks, once death certificates submitted by the municipalities had been analysed and possible links to the heat determined.
Excess mortality, Bley added, remains one of the principal concerns during any severe heatwave.
The authorities will assess the implementation of Luxembourg's heatwave response plan over the coming weeks and identify areas that may need improvement, Bley explained.
According to Bley, the review will examine whether more consistent nationwide rules are needed during red alerts, particularly for outdoor work, schools, and childcare facilities. He also noted that the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) had carried out checks to ensure that people working outside were doing so under the safest possible conditions.
Bley said the authorities would review the response over the coming weeks to determine what worked well and what could be improved for future heatwaves.
Bley was also asked whether more air conditioning should be installed in hospitals, care homes, and schools. He said the issue fell outside his area of expertise and would have to be examined by the authorities responsible for the buildings concerned.
Turning to the thunderstorms forecast after the heatwave, Bley said the latest predictions were relatively reassuring, although the authorities would continue monitoring the situation in close contact with Meteolux and the emergency services.
