By Yiyue Wu
Between May and June 2026, England experienced two periods of extreme heat. Preliminary figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimated around 2,877 heat-related deaths during these two events alone (UKHSA, 2026). The danger was not confined to the outdoors: UKHSA research on the summer of 2024 found that an estimated 358 heat-related deaths occurred in people’s own homes(UKHSA, 2025).
Unlike floods that sweep away houses, extreme heat may leave little visible damage, yet it can still claim lives. When someone dies at home, are we fully aware of the environmental risks that might have been prevented?
One Death, More Than One Explanation
Extreme heat can do more than cause heatstroke. It can also worsen existing health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. An older person with heart disease, for example, may become seriously ill during a heatwave, yet their final medical diagnosis may not fully reflect the role that heat played in their death.
How we define, classify and communicate risks shapes how society understands them and what action we take(Slovic, 1987).
When heat-related deaths are treated as separate cases of individual illness, shared factors such as poorly insulated housing, limited access to cooling and a lack of community support may receive too little attention.
Recognising Risks, Finding Ways to Prevent Deaths
UKHSA monitors heat-related mortality by comparing deaths during periods of extreme heat with those during other periods. This helps reveal patterns that may be difficult to identify from individual cases alone(UKHSA, 2025).
Its research also found that underlying causes of heat-related deaths in England in 2024 included circulatory diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as influenza and pneumonia(UKHSA, 2025). These findings show how the health effects of extreme heat can appear under different medical diagnoses.
Recognising these shared risks can help guide prevention. Better insulation and ventilation, affordable ways to keep homes cool, and community networks that regularly check on older people living alone and other vulnerable residents can all help reduce the dangers of extreme heat at home.
Making Resilience Start at Home
The theme of the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is Resilience Starts at Home(UNDRR, 2026). A family’s ability to cope with disasters depends not only on the physical condition of their home, but also on whether its members can recognise risks, access resources and seek help when they need it.
Researchers can use data to uncover overlooked risks. Public authorities can turn those findings into practical measures, while the media can help people recognise dangers that may not make dramatic headlines but can still cost lives. Together, these efforts can make homes safer.
Instead of asking only “What disease did this person die from?”, we should also ask “What conditions might have changed the outcome?” That is where new opportunities to prevent avoidable deaths begin.
Reference
Slovic, P. (1987) ‘Perception of risk’, Science, 236(4799), pp. 280–285. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3563507
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (2025) Heat mortality monitoring report, England: 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-2024/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-2024
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (2026) Interim heat mortality monitoring report, England: May and June 2026. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-may-and-june-2026/interim-heat-mortality-monitoring-report-england-may-and-june-2026
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (2026) Concept note: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026: Resilience Starts at Home. Available at: https://iddrr.undrr.org/publication/documents-and-publications/concept-note-international-day-disaster-risk-reduction-2026