IMPACTS AND RESPONSES TO THE 1995 HEAT-WAVE - A CALL TO ACTION

The short but intense heat wave in mid-July 1995 caused 830 deaths nat ionally, with 525 of these deaths in Chicago. Many of the dead were el derly, and the event raised great concern over why it happened. Assess ment of causes for the heat wave-related deaths in Chicago revealed ma ny factors were at fault, including an inadequate local heat wave warn ing system, power failures, questionable death assessments, inadequate ambulance service and hospital facilities, the heat island, an aging population, and the inability of many persons to properly ventilate th eir residences due to fear of crime or a lack of resources for fans or air conditioning. Heat-related deaths appear to be on the increase in the United States. Heat-related deaths greatly exceed those caused by other life-threatening weather conditions. Analysis of the impacts an d responses to this heat wave reveals a need to 1) define the heat isl and conditions during heat waves for all major cities as a means to im prove forecasts of threatening conditions, 2) develop a nationally uni form means for classifying heat-related deaths, 3) improve warning sys tems that are designed around local conditions of large cities, and 4) increase research on the meteorological and climatological aspects of heat stress and heat waves.