Do You Prefer Hot or Cold?

SEARCH BLOG: GLOBAL WARMING

U.S. statistics:

During 1999--2003, a total of 3,442 deaths resulting from exposure to extreme heat were reported (annual mean: 688). For 2,239 (65%) of these deaths, the underlying cause of death was recorded as exposure to excessive heat; for the remaining 1,203 (35%), hyperthermia was recorded as a contributing factor.

During 1999--2002, a total of 4,607 death certificates (annual mean: 1536) in the United States had hypothermia-related diagnoses listed as the underlying cause of death or nature of injury leading to the underlying cause of death. (annual incidence: four per 1,000,000 population).

If I were part of the major media establishment, I would:

1. ignore the above statistics
2. state that "during 1999 - 2003 more than 3,400 people were killed by excessive heat related to global warming"
3. say "you have only a 4 in 1,000,000 chance of dying from the cold"

However, as an independent observer, I will say that:

1. deaths directly from heat or cold are not a major threat to the U.S. population
2. for the few deaths that occur from extreme temperatures, there would probably be a net reduction of overall extreme temperature deaths if the U.S. average temperatures increased somewhat.

What is not shown in these statistics is the very large number of deaths due to respiratory infections that occur primarily during cold weather periods. That factor is why, if our climate is warming, we will be healthier as a nation with a higher average annual temperature... shorter, milder winters, if you will.

I suspect that you will find similar statistics wherever winters are severe.

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