Heatwave Deaths

[Foss62]

The Guardian have this idea that right wing news outlets are covering up excess heatwave deaths:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/0...

However, as a (retired) Scientist and believer in MMGW, I also have my reservations about the effect of the recent weather on mortality.

According to Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1115077/monthl... June and July 2026 are towards the top of the (clustered) mix compared to other years but are definitely not outliers. Furthermore, the last major heatwave in July 2022 does not stand out.

I very much doubt that this hypothesis of generalised heatwave deaths would stand much rigorous statistical analysis, even though there were no doubt a few specific deaths that could be directly attributed (along the lines of the Michael Mosley tragedy).

[Unreal]

How about dogs with third degree burns on their paws? Vets must have been overwhelmed or maybe we got help from places like Spain and Greece.

Edited by Unreal on Thursday 3rd September 13:06

[Jimbo.]

I suspect there is something in it. Anecdotal evidence it may be, however my housemate (who works in a funeral directors) said it’s been way, way busier than ever before, outside the pandemic (and close at times). Every time it got hot, the fridges filled up in the days after. And fit was the same from other funeral directors they worked alongside.

[Foss62]

Jimbo. said:

I suspect there is something in it. Anecdotal evidence it may be, however my housemate (who works in a funeral directors) said it s been way, way busier than ever before, outside the pandemic (and close at times). Every time it got hot, the fridges filled up in the days after. And fit was the same from other funeral directors they worked alongside.

A major reason for that could be that everyone has an interest in not letting dead bodies lay around in hot temperatures for any longer than necessary, so there might be a bit more urgency about processing rather than greatly increased numbers of deaths.

[Unreal]

There are official stats on deaths so it should be easy to check any spike over the summer compared to other years.

[ARH]

Jimbo. said:

I suspect there is something in it. Anecdotal evidence it may be, however my housemate (who works in a funeral directors) said it s been way, way busier than ever before, outside the pandemic (and close at times). Every time it got hot, the fridges filled up in the days after. And fit was the same from other funeral directors they worked alongside.

The wife works for a funeral director and it has been a busy summer for them, they have been full, as have the crematoriums and the hospital morgue has been nagging for them to take the dead away as they are full as well.

[OutInTheShed]

The last of my late Father's mates keeled over in the heatwave, I don't see that as an excess death, he's been on borrowed time for at least a year, if it wasn't the heat finishing him off, a common cold or a minor fall or... has been on the cards for ages.

[FredericRobinson]

Foss62 said:

A major reason for that could be that everyone has an interest in not letting dead bodies lay around in hot temperatures for any longer than necessary, so there might be a bit more urgency about processing rather than greatly increased numbers of deaths.

Do people leave dead bodies lying around for a few days when it’s not hot?

[greygoose]

FredericRobinson said:

Foss62 said:

A major reason for that could be that everyone has an interest in not letting dead bodies lay around in hot temperatures for any longer than necessary, so there might be a bit more urgency about processing rather than greatly increased numbers of deaths.

Do people leave dead bodies lying around for a few days when it s not hot?

Doesn’t sound that likely does it?

[Foss62]

FredericRobinson said:

Foss62 said:

A major reason for that could be that everyone has an interest in not letting dead bodies lay around in hot temperatures for any longer than necessary, so there might be a bit more urgency about processing rather than greatly increased numbers of deaths.

Do people leave dead bodies lying around for a few days when it s not hot?

Yes - depending on religion and local custom. But I was thinking more of situations like hospitals where priorities might change due to hot weather plus inadequate aircon etc.
Another possibility (for the undertaker observations of spikes following hot weather) could be that imminent deaths are hastened by hours or days of particularly hot weather, due to the dying person’s inability to regulate heat.

[Foss62]

Unreal said:

There are official stats on deaths so it should be easy to check any spike over the summer compared to other years.

See my OP.

[irc]

The other way to look at it is a warming climate means fewer deaths caused by cold. As winter deaths far outweight summer deaths a warmer climate is a net benefit.


"There has been a net decrease in the number of deaths in the winter months since the start of the millennium. This is likely to have been driven in part by the UK’s trend of milder winters and rarer extreme cold weather events."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mortali...

A portable air con unit to get the house cooler for a few weeks a year is only the cost of a TV and everyone has a TV. Pity the UK climate change policies have made electricity so expensive though.

[Unreal]

OutInTheShed said:

The last of my late Father's mates keeled over in the heatwave, I don't see that as an excess death, he's been on borrowed time for at least a year, if it wasn't the heat finishing him off, a common cold or a minor fall or... has been on the cards for ages.

What matters is excess deaths. I doubt there were many at all. Old people die every day. Sometimes it's flu, sometimes heat, sometimes cold, sometimes a fall. Probably too soon to see all the numbers.

[GMT13]

irc said:

The other way to look at it is a warming climate means fewer deaths caused by cold. As winter deaths far outweight summer deaths a warmer climate is a net benefit.

Well yes, you could look at it like that.

But then it would become more difficult to justify more tax and increased restrictions on the public's freedom (for their own good) by a bloated, increasingly authoritarian nanny state.

So best not to really, if you are the guardian.

[bloomen]

I assume there are very few deaths directly attributable to heat in people with normal health in this country. It's gross, but they endure.

I don't see how it can't help finish off someone who's already weakened.

A doddery relative of mine lives in southern Europe and they've been hospitalised multiple times for lingering too long on terraces in the height of summer.

One day it'll get them unless they leave or hide indoors. I've zero doubt they would last longer in a better climate.

[Trax]

Unreal said:

How about dogs with third degree burns on their paws? Vets must have been overwhelmed or maybe we got help from places like Spain and Greece.

Edited by Unreal on Thursday 3rd September 13:06

Not our Miniature Dachshund, couldn't get her out of the sun this year, laid on it and on fake grass.....

[768]

Unreal said:

How about dogs with third degree burns on their paws? Vets must have been overwhelmed or maybe we got help from places like Spain and Greece.

Careful, you'll anger the Facebook Gods.

[mike9009]

bloomen said:

I assume there are very few deaths directly attributable to heat in people with normal health in this country. It's gross, but they endure.

I don't see how it can't help finish off someone who's already weakened.

A doddery relative of mine lives in southern Europe and they've been hospitalised multiple times for lingering too long on terraces in the height of summer.

One day it'll get them unless they leave or hide indoors. I've zero doubt they would last longer in a better climate.

My wife ended up in hospital twice this summer, once with heat stroke and second dehydration (3 week later after not recovering properly).

She has no underlying health conditions, very active (plays competitive tennis, gym twice a week and daily walks with the dog), so I would not be so blaze about the under lying health conditions or age.

She was playing tennis at the time, came home, felt dizzy/ nauseous. Took to A and E, where she collapsed out of her chair, shaking violently and vomiting. Alarms go off and rushed through for immediate treatment. Triage did not react as her vital signs were all normal (blood pressure, temp, pulse).

Basically because of her fitness and adrenaline she did not recognise the symptoms whilst playing tennis. Well hydrated, porridge, banana and lucozade (?) prior and during game.

In hospital for three days.

My advice is be careful out there. Not so much now, obviously....

Hospital was rammed with elderly patients with various heat related conditions. (And a couple of dehydrated alcoholics too, for good measure......)