'Silent killer' heatwave thought to have left at least 9 dead in Europe
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
At least nine people in Europe have died in savage heat this week as a "silent killer" heatwave continues to bake the continent.
In Italy, scorching temperatures of up to 38C forced officials to issue the most severe red alerts across 17 major cities, including Milan and Rome, while several regions banned outdoor work in the afternoon.
But the sweltering conditions - locked in by a 'heat dome' hovering over Europe - have already been implicated in the death of at least one labourer.
Local reports say Brahim Ait El Hajjam, 47, keeled over in the midday sun while pouring concrete in a car park on the outskirts of Bologna, which was also under a red alert.
Two men over 60 died on beaches in Sardinia, the ANSA news agency reported, and in Sicily's capital Palermo, a 53-year-old woman died on Monday after reportedly fainting while walking along a street. Local media said she had an existing heart condition.
The results of post-mortem examinations have not been published, but heatwaves kill thousands of people a year in Europe, earning them the nickname the "silent killer".
During the long, baking summer of 2022 in Europe, its hottest on record, 61,000 people died because of the heat, a study found.
The head of Italy's society for emergency medicine (SIMEU), Doctor Alessandro Riccardi, said A&E admissions have spiked in the current heatwave.
"We have observed a 10% increase in admissions compared to the national average, with some peaks (up to 20%) in Sardinia, which is among the regions most affected by the temperature at the moment," he told Sky News.
"More than absolute numbers, the composition of patients has changed, with an increase in patients requiring hospitalisation, and on this, the temperature plays a predominant role".
How does heat affect the body?
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Europeans often talk about how dangerous America. They obsess about gun crime and imagine our country is like a first person shooter video game.
The reality is heat, simple heat, kills many times more europeans than americans are murdered by guns. And, of course, our heat related deaths are a tiny fraction of Europe's, despite being much hotter.
Just another thing to be thankful for being born in the USA for.
Are we supposed to be happy that 15 times more people are killed by guns in the US every year than by heat?
Yes, you should be proud we've almost completely eliminated heat related deaths from our country despite having a relatively warm climate. Look at how dangerous heat can be, even on an "advanced" continent like Europe with a much cooler climate.
We also suffer significantly fewer deaths related to extreme cold as well.
Hogwash:
That's an amazingly low number, and a fraction of what it would have been 100 years. Again, compare and contrast with Europe, a continent that enjoys a much more temperate climate.
And you know that how?
I understand how air conditioning affects the human body.
So, this seed on your part is just an excuse to trash it with unassociated dead squirrels.
Numbers and perspective frighten people when their sacred cows get gored. I get it. You'll be okay.
It appears pre-existing medical conditions were the cause of at least some of the deaths
Morning..and some people are just plain stupid when it comes to heat..or guns for that matter..
You don't start pouring concrete in a heat wave, nor go for a walk in the hottest part of the day..you may as well run a marathon...
As for baking on a beach frying away, absolutely nuts...
I hate air con, I don't have it in the house and in the car it has to hit 35c before I even consider turning it on...
Up to 38c is really not that hot and it barely lasts a few days..a heat wave is when it's above 40c and goes for weeks..
How did people survive before air con?
There are so many things you can do yourself and just plain common sense..which so many people lack these days and are just stupid or dumb...I am not sure which..
Like you I don't have AC in the house and only very rarely turn it on in the car (that's what windows are for), though I doubt I have dealt with temps as hot as you have. However I am likely more tolerant of cold temps
Morning Free...yep I open the window in the car and love it..
Yes you would be far more tolerant to cold than me... speaking of which it is 5C and need to turn the heater on..
Some mornings it's been down to 3C can tell when it's going to be chilly as there is no cloud cover at nigh and the sky is clear..see all the stars and the satellites whizzing around...
Keep warm it is winter down there. Meanwhile today it was a balmy 19C and sunny here, might warm up to the mid-high 20s by the end of next week