Rome Deploys Wearable Bracelets to Protect Elderly During Heatwave

Rome’s municipality has launched a program that equips isolated seniors with smart electronic bracelets to monitor health indicators during the current European heatwave. Funded by a €400 million EU post‑COVID scheme, the wearables track body temperature, heart rate, sleep patterns and motion, detecting falls and allowing users to call for help. Remote social‑worker teams receive real‑time data and can intervene if a resident shows signs of distress.

The pilot currently covers around 700 older residents, including an 85‑year‑old widow who says the device gives her peace of mind. Officials presented the system as a preventive health tool to curb heat‑related dehydration, fainting and mortality, building on earlier warnings after deadly heat spikes in 2003. The initiative reflects wider efforts across Europe, where extreme temperatures have driven excess deaths, particularly among those over 65.