Читать книгу Disaster Response and Recovery - David A. McEntire - Страница 26

Heat Wave in France

In August 2003, France experienced some of the highest minimum and maximum daily temperatures recorded in history. Because several families and physicians had taken time off from work during this typical vacation period, many elderly individuals were left at home or without sufficient care in hospitals and nursing facilities. The lack of air‐conditioning units in France combined with temperatures up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit and insufficient fluid intake resulted in the death of as many as 15,000 people. Heat waves such as this one are not always recognized as significant hazards, but their impact can be extensive as France discovered.