"LONDON — England’s scorching summer that sent temperatures to record-breaking highs has now been linked to a record number of excess deaths among the elderly.
England recorded 2,803 excess deaths among those 65 and older, according to a recent analysis by the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Office for National Statistics. The government agencies said that was the highest figure among the elderly since they started tracking heat-related deaths in this way in 2004. “These figures demonstrate the possible impact that hot weather can have on the elderly and how quickly such temperatures can lead to adverse health effects in at-risk groups,” the groups said in a statement.
On July 19, temperatures soared above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees Celsius, the hottest day ever recorded in Britain. Train tracks buckled, several fires broke out across greater London, and in some areas officials issued their first “level 4 heat health alerts.” Scientists said the heat wave had been made at least 10 times as likely because of human-caused climate change."
Karla Adam reports for the Washington Post October 10, 2022.
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