Installation and Management of Community Cooling Centres

Across the globe, extreme heat events are on the rise – more frequent, longer lasting and increasingly severe. This trend is expected to persist and worsen due to the ongoing impacts of climate change. Being exposed to extreme heat can cause heat-related illnesses, often by aggravating existing medical conditions. This exposure can result in heatstroke, heat exhaustion, disability and premature death.

To prevent or reduce the negative impact of heat on human health, RCRC National Societies may consider installing community cooling centres in heat-affected areas. To assist National Societies in this endeavour, the German Red Cross (GRC) has created this manual, which is the result of a collaborative effort between GRC and the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC). VNRC has formulated procedures for setting up and running community cooling centres, which are operated by VNRC during heatwaves. The purpose of this manual is to document the outstanding efforts and experiences of VNRC and make them accessible to National Societies worldwide.