Already marked by a succession of heat episodes, summer 2017 had resulted in an additional 474 deaths. For this summer season 2018, the report presented by the Minister of Solidarity and Health, Agnès Buzyn announces that 1,480 additional deaths were recorded compared to the average observed at the same periods of years without heatwave episode.
According to health authorities, excess mortality was “limited” given the intensity and duration (the longest encountered since 2006) of this heat wave episode: from July 24 to August 8 with up to 67 departments concerned. “In comparison, the heat wave of 2003 had caused 15,000 additional deaths, that of 2006, 2,100 deaths and that of 2015, whose characteristics are comparable to this year, 1,739 additional deaths” underlines the minister in a press release.
Unacceptable excess mortality
For its part, the AD-PA association, which brings together at the national level the directors of establishments for the elderly and home services, underlines that this excess mortality remains “absolutely unacceptable”. While they are pleased that this excess mortality is 10 times lower than in 2003, the members of the AD-PA wonder: “How would we have reacted to an excess mortality of 1,500 young children?”. They recall that in recent years, tens of thousands of elderly people have died due to flu epidemics and heatwave episodes, “as if the excess mortality of the elderly was a fatality against which we can do nothing”. In response to the heat wave, the association underlines the need to strengthen prevention, fight against isolation and daily support for the elderly, both at home and in institutions.
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