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Discussion: 540-760 Deaths from UK Heat
Member Since: 12/28/2011
Posts: 19,165
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540-760 Deaths from UK Heat
Heat Wave Death Toll Rises in U.K.
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A heat wave in England is being blamed for hundreds of premature deaths, and a wildfire warning has been issued as the mercury continues to rise.
Research conducted for The Times by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated the death toll for the first nine days of the heat wave as between 540 and 760 people in England alone.
Play VideoAutoplayONOFF "The excess is likely to have been overwhelmingly among the elderly, especially over 75, some of which may have been among people who would have died just a few weeks later if there had been no heat wave," Ben Armstrong, an epidemiological statistician, told Reuters.
The country experienced six consecutive days of plus-86 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures, and with rainfall at only around 15 percent of average monthly totals so far, Britain's national weather service has warned there is an "elevated risk" of fires in the countryside.
The country experienced the hottest day of the year so far on Wednesday, with temperatures hitting 89.9 degrees Fahrenheit.
Karl Kitchen, the Met Office scientist with responsibility for wildfires, told The Independent that soon-to-be harvested crops such as wheat and winter barely are looking particularly vulnerable to fire.
Firefighters in London have already warned of the dangers posed by grass fires.
London Fire Brigade says it dealt with twice as many grass fires in this summer's heat wave compared with last year. The fires are mostly caused by cigarette butts, barbecues or glass bottles.
Police and fire chiefs have also reiterated warnings about taking excessive risks to escape the heat after four people died in separate incidents on Wednesday.
A 16-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man were found dead in unrelated incidents in lakes in the eastern county of Norfolk, while in Cornwall, a 40-year old woman died swimming in the sea. In the central city of Lincoln, a postman died after collapsing in the heat during his round, Reuters reported.
Despite temperatures not yet reaching into the 90s, doctors say British citizens are not prepared for the high temperatures, especially in London's underground trains, according to Sky News.
Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, told Sky News: "Other countries are used to very hot summers, we are not ready for this. [95 degrees Fahrenheit] is pretty brutal and you need to be careful, particularly if you're frail."
The heat wave is set to continue next week, with temperatures of 86 degrees Fahrenheit expected next Monday. But there will be a slight respite for parts of the country this weekend, with the mercury dropping slightly to 82.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 7,833
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it is terrible at the moment
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Member Since: 6/3/2011
Posts: 14,194
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86ºF? Sorry but that's ridiculous.
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Member Since: 9/4/2011
Posts: 22,946
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Wow, that's horrible
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Member Since: 3/26/2011
Posts: 3,701
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I just got back from the UK and it was hot, but not that hot. Low 30's is nothing
Y'all would never survive Aus
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Member Since: 12/28/2011
Posts: 19,165
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cz!
86ºF? Sorry but that's ridiculous.
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!!! I'm saying. But I'm guessing its the humidity and lack of air cons in houses.
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Member Since: 12/25/2003
Posts: 13,870
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In New York last week, it was verging on 100 degrees for 4 days straight. At least the weather has cooled down loads here since then.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 25,037
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Y'all annoy the **** out of me with that basic ass Fahrenheit lol.
It's very hot but 540 - 760 deaths is too much...
But I guess it's because there are hardly any air conditioning systems in northern European houses.
We had like winter/fall weather until late June, and all of a sudden we're being slayed by these temperatures.
We're not prepared
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Member Since: 5/3/2012
Posts: 42,099
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Not the 80s! We regularly hit the 100s in the Southern US! Y'all could never make it here.
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Member Since: 5/28/2012
Posts: 11,243
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We don't have air con, we don't have swimming pools, we have desk fans and that's as far as it goes.
Most of the deaths were elderly anyway so it's understandable. Their immune systems and body control are a lot weaker.
But I love this heat so keep it coming
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Member Since: 2/23/2012
Posts: 7,699
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Oh that's so sad
I love the temperature atm, except I don't get much sleep.
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Member Since: 8/20/2011
Posts: 9,381
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girl.... 86-89 degrees?
i mean, turn on the fan if it's THAT hot for y'all
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 1,722
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I can say from living in the UK, that we never experience this kind of heat/humidity at this intensity!
I'd say if those number were right, that the most of the deaths aren't caused directly by the heat, but rather by the behavior of individuals due to being inexperienced with this type of intense heat?
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Member Since: 1/1/2013
Posts: 15,264
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Quote:
Originally posted by RomanNavy
Y'all annoy the **** out of me with that basic ass Fahrenheit lol.
It's very hot but 540 - 760 deaths is too much...
But I guess it's because there are hardly any air conditioning systems in northern European houses.
We had like winter/fall weather until late June, and all of a sudden we're being slayed by these temperatures.
We're not prepared
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Totally possible though, in 2006 the heatwave in The Netherlands was the fifth biggest disaster in the world of that year with over a 1000 deaths
(Source is Dutch National Press)
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Member Since: 12/28/2011
Posts: 19,165
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But is there really any scientific difference between the heat in the UK/Europe and elsewhere though? Because personally, I've lived in countries with over 40 degrees celsius in the summer but 30 degrees in the UK at times feels the same to me. I mean, I fainted in my friend's flat in London last week and I was shocked myself because I knew the heat was anything but too hot for me. Also, I have never fainted before. Maybe it's the quick transition from cold to hot because I know UK's weather is mad bipolar but iono.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 5,414
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Its too hot in the UK atm, However many of us brits don't have swimming pools, fans , air con because we are not used to this sort of weather did these people die of sun stroke? or dehydration ?
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,233
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Wtf thats a lot
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Member Since: 3/18/2012
Posts: 970
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thats really horrible
im always shocked when i hear such news
here in dubai reaching 48-50 C degees (i dont know how much it is in fehrenheit) is a normal thing + add to that the sticky humidity
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Member Since: 11/28/2011
Posts: 27,495
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Our weather has peaked @ 29 degrees this week. This is serious business.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 25,037
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Quote:
Originally posted by BadMonster
Totally possible though, in 2006 the heatwave in The Netherlands was the fifth biggest disaster in the world of that year with over a 1000 deaths
(Source is Dutch National Press)
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You mean 2003? Biggest heat wave ever in Europe..
Over 70.000 people died from just 1 summer.
It was like a mass murder.
Even a southern European country like Italy had over 20.000 deaths.
The heat was unbearable.
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