local tv said 3000 people died in France heatwave. ?!?

[greyl]

This is bull, right?
I called the station and they cited the AP and the French Health Minister, but the highest figure I find 150.

[greyl]

1. The AP story

<>PARIS (AP) -- About 3,000 people have died in France of heat-related causes since abnormally high temperatures swept across the country about two weeks ago, the health ministry estimated Thursday.

"The number of deaths linked directly or indirectly to the heat ... can be estimated at around 3,000 for the whole of France," the ministry said in a statement.

It was the government's first official death toll estimate. One of the few organizations to issue an estimate, France's emergency hospital physicians' association, had earlier this week said the death toll was at least 100.

Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei said the blistering heat wave has caused a "veritable epidemic" of death in France. <>



http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FRANCE_HEAT_WAVE?SITE=CALOS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Maple]

2. Well the last I heard

it was 100 or so, and that they couldn't even guarantee that. Just that deaths were up from normal at this time of year.

But after reading your post I checked the news online and found this.

About 3,000 die of heat-related causes in France

PARIS (AP) - About 3,000 people have died in France of heat-related causes since abnormally high temperatures swept across the country about two weeks ago, the health ministry said Thursday.

"The number of deaths linked directly or indirectly to the heat ... can be estimated at around 3,000 for the whole of France," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier Thursday, Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei acknowledged the blistering heat wave has caused a "veritable epidemic" of death in France, but he did not give figures.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/8/14/latest/13517About300&sec=latest

Doesn't seem likely, but that's what it says.

On edit: Okay, now you've heard it twice! :D

[greyl]

4. That .... gap bothers me.

"""The number of deaths linked directly or indirectly to the heat ... can be estimated at around 3,000 for the whole of France," the ministry said in a statement ""

Does the gap mean something was removed from his statement or that he paused before continuing...or what? I mean good grief, that's a large number of heat related deaths.

[Maple]

5. I dunno

I was astounded. Like you say, that's a large number.

Did they just notice this?

I just read about it yesterday and they said around 100, but that it wasn't easy to tell because there was nothing obvious about the deaths so they were assuming heat played a role in it.

[Paschall]

15. The 100 figure was just for the Greater Paris region

They've been throwing it around for 48 hours. It appears deaths have been very high in Marseilles and the south where a lot of older, retired people live or have holiday homes.

[ET Awful]

19. If I recall . . .

The 100 estimate was just for the Paris area, the 3,000 appears to be for the entire country.

[WillyT]

3. They Read That Headline On One Of The NBC Cable Networks Too !!!

Just about an hour ago. They reminded everybody that it was an 'estimate', but were checking into it nonetheless!

:shrug:

[OldEurope]

6. The number of about 100 is only from Paris and its surroundings.

3000 deaths could be all over the country, as the burning woods in Southern parts of France surely cause more deaths.
But I´m missing a number: how many persons usually die in this time in France? I mean: perhaps some very old or very sick persons would have died anyway, perhaps two weeks later or so, if it were not that hot...
Always confused about statistics...:crazy:

[OldEurope]

7. ok, forget the above.

I´m afraid, my brain also is out of order today...due to the heat in Germany...
When normally 2300 persons die, and now 3000 died, so it´s 700 more deaths due to the heat, right?

[greyl]

8. Normal death number in france

"Morgues and funeral directors have reported skyrocketing demand for their services since the heat wave took hold. General Funeral Services, France's largest undertaker, said it handled some 3,230 deaths from Aug. 4-10, compared to 2,300 on an average week in the year - a 37-percent jump."

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FRANCE_HEAT_WAVE?SITE=CALOS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Paschall]

16. That's just the number from one funeral service

Even if that company happens to be the largest, the figure isn't the real national average.

[greyl]

18. True, I know.

The difference can't be offhandedly attributed to heat, though.

[WillyT]

9. Another Article (Link)...

Link: http://www.msnbc.com/news/948415.asp?0cv=CB10

:wtf:

[izzie]

10. Sounds way off to me.

It may be GOP thinking. If you die when it is hot you die from the heat. If the Berlin wall falls when Reagon was Prez he did it all. when we fight in WW2 we won the war. Not at all thinking about what else is going on.

[VoteClark]

11. 105 is not that hot! What the Hell!

Arizona is like 110 all the time, and there is no shortage of the elderly and young in Arizona. Yet, they don't die off like flys. What is the deal. Are this people running ten miles or something, how can that many die, do they not have ice and cold water in France?

:kick:
J4Clark

[greatauntoftriplets]

13. It is EXTREMELY hot for France

where the average daily high at this time of year is 71 degrees. I assume that you have never been to France. Most of the homes there are built of stone and retain heat. As I say below, there is virtually no air conditioning -- not in offices or homes.

The French are not accustomed to Arizona heat.

[Zephyrbird]

21. Right-O!!

the French have no idea how to deal with this heat. There is air conditioning usually only in businesses, hotels, maybe some restaurants. France has an extremely mild climate year-round, often growing roses into December, even at Christmas, and the summers are usually in the 70s. These temperatures have NEVER been recorded in history.

But we all know, there's no such thing as Global Warming!! sheesh!

I remember my cousin visiting 15 years ago. We took him blueberry picking in August when it was 85 degrees. He just about passed out in the patch, and hell, it was shaded by huge bushes. We know what to do when the heat gets like this, but when you have folks that have never experienced it you're bound to get fatalities in large numbers. I've been concerned for my relatives, but everybody seems to be okay so far.

I heard this morning the heat wave was breaking because of showers and thunderstorms, so I hope they're over the worst of it.

[greatauntoftriplets]

23. My cousins in Luxembourg usually head for the Swiss Alps

when the temperature hits the mid-80s. This time, there is no relief even there. I was thinking also in response to the above post re temperatures in Arizona, the equivalent there to this would be highs in the 140s.

[Maudlin]

22. Also, the humidity

I've been to the French mediterranean on holiday lots of times, and one time when the weather was really hot (though below the levels seen today), I could literally not breathe the air, and I was in my late teens back then. I was panting like I'd just run 10 miles.

I can certainly imagine elderly people suffering under those conditions.

[Paschall]

17. And if you're from Maine, four inches of snow is piffle

Lay it on the streets of Houston and you have chaos.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. NPR just reported the 3,000 statistic also.

Remember, though, that France is a country with very little air conditioning and many elderly people who cannot take the heat.

[Maple]

14. I agree

they aren't used to it, and so don't have as much a/c as we do, but still........

[sexybomber]

20. it depends on what your definition of "heat related" is

say some idiot decides to take a cold bath and have a fan going at the same time. fan falls into the water, idiot gets electrocuted.

heat related?