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Urban Heat Island
Depending on the research methods, the figures that each government agency publishes
often conflict. They have to rely heavily on death certificates and/or hospital reports
issued by a medical officer. But how do these medical professionals classify a heat-
A person died of a heart attack. Did the heart surrender to the demand of the body’s temperature control mechanism to pump large amounts of blood to the skin? Another person drank a considerable amount of alcohol during a hot day. Did the person die as a result of the toxic effect of alcohol, or due to a heatstroke? The heat most likely played a role in both cases. But would the person have lived under different circumstances? What was the primary cause?
These questions can lead to the speculation that the actual heat-
The media always seems to be preoccupied with death rates. We shouldn’t forget the many victims left with permanent health damage. A lack of records makes it hard to determine the number of people who become ill. But for every dead person there must be many more survivors burdened with brain, kidney or liver damage. Some will become heat intolerant and will be in particular danger when the next heat wave comes around.
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Heat injures and kills, as we can see from the thousands of people who die of heat-