I convened an emergency WHO/Europe check-in on extreme heat with one direct question: what has this heatwave taught us, and are we ready for what comes next? The call brought together 130+ participants from 41 Member States, as well as the European Commission and civil society. The key takeaway was clear: heat-health action plans work. Even as excess deaths are reported, many more lives are protected when plans are in place, tested and linked to public health response. We heard concrete examples from Italy, France, Spain and others: surveillance providing near real-time data; coordination across sectors reducing pressure on health services; and close work with media improving public risk communication. But gaps remain: fewer than half of Member States have national heat-health action plans; cooling spaces are not always available or known; and older people living alone, long-term care residents and homeless people are still not reached consistently. @WHO_Europe will share lessons, support countries directly and continue these rapid check-ins, as Member States requested. Read more here > bit.ly/4fm1fq1 @WHO | @DrTedros | @UN | @antonioguterres | @SelwinHart | @UNFCCC | @SDG2030 |