title: How resilient is the general population to heatwaves? A knowledge survey from the ENHANCE project in Brussels and Amsterdam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies have shown an increase in mortality and morbidity during heatwaves, especially among the elderly. We assessed the knowledge of the general population of Brussels and Amsterdam on groups at risk and protective measures for heat-related health effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six locations with mixed populations were selected in each city. Passer-by's in both cities were asked to participate in a short survey. Respondents in Brussels (n = 120) had significantly more knowledge on risk groups and protective measures than respondents in Amsterdam (n = 133). In both cities, individuals with higher education had better knowledge on risk groups and protective measures than individuals with lower education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts at heat-awareness raising must be strengthened, especially in Amsterdam, and public health actions should effectively target vulnerable groups with lower education in both cities.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Society, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Université catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, 1200 Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium. joris.vanloenhout@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Joris Adriaan Frank
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Loenhout
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Society, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Université catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, 1200 Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Debarati
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guha-Sapir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011634:Public Health; D012306:Risk; D012923:Social Class; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Awareness raising; Heat; Heat plan; Protective measure; Risk group