Halle opens churches as cool refuges against heat waves!

Halle opens churches as cool refuges against heat waves!

The city of Halle (Saale) is preparing for a heat wave: On July 2, 2025, the Ulrichskirche will open its doors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for everyone who wants to escape the oppressive summer heat. With temperatures forecast to reach up to 36 degrees Celsius, which can feel even hotter in the city center due to the concrete and asphalt, the thick sandstone walls of the Ulrichskirche offer a welcome cool retreat. The aim of this initiative is to offer the people of Halle an opportunity to protect themselves from the extreme temperatures dubisthalle.de reported.

But the Ulrichskirche is not the only cooling corner in the city. The Halle-Saalkreis Evangelical Church District is also opening other churches to give citizens the opportunity to cool off. The accessible churches include the Marktkirche, the Halle Cathedral (Fridays), the Pauluskirche with a drinking offer and many more. The city administration urges everyone to take high temperatures seriously, avoid direct sunlight and drink enough water - this is particularly important for older people and children. The switch to such measures is taking place against the background of the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves that are to be expected in Germany due to climate change.

Heat as a health risk

Heat is a relevant health risk in Germany that the population should take seriously. In the summer of 2022, around 9,100 people died as a result of extreme heat, a number that corresponds to more traffic deaths and drug victims combined. Heat waves lead to an increased disease burden, more hospital admissions and can even lead to catastrophic situations with supply shortages.

The risk is particularly high for older people because their ability to adapt to high temperatures is often reduced. People with chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular or lung disease, should also be careful. The German Weather Service (DWD) highlights that heat waves could increase in frequency and intensity, which is a clear warning to everyone to prepare for such extreme weather events.

Practical tips for coping with heat

So what can you do to better manage the heat? The experts recommend regularly consuming between 1.5 and 3 liters of fluid per day and scheduling sporting activities in the cooler morning and evening hours. Lighter, breathable clothing and staying in the shade or in air-conditioned rooms are also helpful. People with previous illnesses should pay particular attention; they should check their medications and monitor blood sugar and blood pressure.

The city of Halle is taking on the challenge and informing the population about assistance and the rules of conduct in extreme heat. A fact sheet was published in May that deals with the health consequences of heat, heat warnings and municipal measures. In this context, it is clear that broad educational work is being carried out to raise awareness of the dangers of extreme temperature increases.

In the long term, Halle is also responding with strategies to combat heat pollution and has updated its website to provide citizens with useful information. A joint effort is needed to reduce health risks and maintain quality of life during heatwaves, such as Umweltbundesamt.de and zdfheute.de underline.