Heatwave caused more than 11,000 extra deaths in France

The Telegraph(UK) ^ | 8/29/03

[Dane]

Heatwave caused more than 11,000 extra deaths in France
(Filed: 29/08/2003)

France recorded 11,435 extra deaths when temperatures over 104 degress Farhenheit were recorded during a heatwave in the first two weeks of August.

The latest figure from the health ministry replaces earlier estimates from the country's leading undertaker, who said an additional 10,400 had died during the heatwave.

The government has come under criticism for its handling of the crisis. Hospitals were left stuggling to cope with the number of people who were suffering from dehydration and hyperthermia.

Prof Lucien Abenhaim, the director general for public health, resigned over the situation. He said the heat wave had become an absurdly political issue and the subject of "unworthy and truly childish" claims by the government's opponents. The health minister, Jean-Francois Mattei, has refused to step down.

Many bodies are still unclaimed and have been buried in temporary graves by the authoritie.

[Dane]

Many bodies are still unclaimed and have been buried in temporary graves by the authoritie.

I guess some frenchies are still on their beloved August vacation.

[samtheman]

The government came under criticism? That's bullsh*t. It's the PEOPLE who should come under criticism. They went on their silly vacations and left the old folks at home in wretched apartments.

French == Scum

[aardvark1]

They had "extra" deaths? Did they have a quota? They should just tell those who were scheduled to die in September they can wait awhile if they want.

[Dudoight]

I think this is a general reflection on the French National Character. What can explain this? The post revolution secularism? I don't think there was even much of a humanist movement intellecutally, in France. Where are the French History majors who can give a clue as to the evolution of the mind of the French as a nation. It sure looks egocentric, arrogant, and altruistically bleak.

[Smile-n-Win]

That's what happens when you expect the government to nurse you.

[samtheman]

I read that many of those old folks were totally abandoned by their own children, left to rot in old-fashioned un-ventilated, un-air-conditioned hell-holes and totally forgotten.

But then again, we are talking about the FRENCH.

[FLAUSA]

Where were the families of these people? Did they not have any family or friends? Or did their family and friends not care enough to check on their well being?

[Loyal Buckeye]

France has a population of 61 million and had approximately 11,000 heat-related deaths. That would be the equivalent of having 55,000 heat-related deaths in the U.S. if we were to follow the same pattern.

[Jumper]

Thank God that this it was only 11,000 French citizens in their peaceful nation.... Had any number of Iraqi citizens died for any reason, Bush and the USA would never hear the end of the French Commendation!

I understand this loss of French live is more acceptable to the French that the loss of life in Iraq!

[2timothy3.16]

Interesting, more frenchmen died from the heat in a week than died in all of world war two fighting the nazis.

[Susannah]

"I understand this loss of French live is more acceptable to the French that the loss of life in Iraq!"

Previous articles on France reported they were busy changing their Constitution to give the environment "equal rights", so the loss of lives should not be considered more damaging than ecological damage.

Also a costsavings, since many of those French who were protesting about their pensions have been pre-empted.

[najida]

The more I read about this, the more disgusted I become.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I guess I am going to be the first person here to say this.

The French are guilty of crimes against humanity. Someone call the World Court.(sacasm)

[50sDad]

Yeah, I don't get it. In America, that cold, businesslike unfeeling land, we have "cool shelters" when there is a heat wave. In France, smug suppeior Frogland, with cradle-to-the-grave Socialism that cares for every person like they were in One Big Family, we have three times as many old folks die as were lost in the World Trade Terror. Jeez, Mr. Frenchy-Frenchman, why not just leave your old folks out on the ice flows?

[ladtx]

...11,000 extra deaths in France

I hate extra deaths.

[CaptainK]

A reader of the NY Times pinpoints the real culprit:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/23/opinion/L23FRAN.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fLetters

[Tacis]

They brought this on themselves! These deaths are the fault of the French. Their arrogance, refusal to act decisively when circumstances require, and obsession with communal action caused all these deaths. French hubris!

[N. Theknow]

They had "extra" deaths? Did they have a quota?

I had that same thought.

Bring out your dead!
Bring out your dead!

[MissAmericanPie]

I rented a movie the other night starring John Travolta called "Basic". In intro was relating how the French are the ones who began to build the Panama Canal.

They were losing about 500 workers a week to milaria and didn't really want the new arriving workers to know this.
So they shipped in thousands of kegs of vinegar and salt, stuffed bodies in the kegs and sold them to medical schools all over Europe.

The French are different.

[Always Right]

Of course the French will blame this on America for global warming.