Unprecedented heat-related deaths during the 2003 heat wave in Paris: consequences on emergency departments

Jean-François Dhainaut¹ , Yann-Erick Claessens², Christine Ginsburg³ and Bruno Riou⁴

¹Professor, Emergency and Intensive Care Department, Cochin Port-Royal University Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris 5, France

²Junior Consultant, Emergency and Intensive Care Department, Cochin Port-Royal University Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris 5, France

³Senior Consultant, Emergency and Intensive Care Department, Cochin Port-Royal University Hospital, AP-HP, University Paris 5, France

⁴Professor, Emergency Department, Pitié-Salpétrière University Hospital, AP-HP, University of Paris 6, France

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Critical Care 2004, 8:1-2doi:10.1186/cc2404


Published:	4 December 2003

Abstract

In August 2003, France sustained an unprecedented heat wave that resulted in 14,800 excess deaths. The consequences were maximal in the Paris area. The Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris reported more than 2600 excess emergency department visits, 1900 excess hospital admissions, and 475 excess deaths despite a rapid organization. Indeed, simple preventice measures before hospital admissions are only able to reduce mortality which mostly occurred at home and in nursing homes.