–345 Blanchard tally of fatalities based on State and local breakouts below.

–323 CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 6 National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No’s 6-9, June-September 1981.

Summary of Breakout of 1981 Heat-Related Fatalities by State

Alabama (13)

Arizona (17)

Arkansas (14)

California (44)

Connecticut ( 2)

Florida (10)

Georgia (32)

Illinois ( 4)

Indiana ( 2)

Iowa (12)

Kansas ( 3)

Kentucky ( 2)

Louisiana ( 6)

Maryland ( 3)

Massachusetts ( 6)

Michigan ( 5)

Minnesota ( 4)

Mississippi (11)

Missouri (12)

Nebraska ( 6)

Nevada ( 5)

New Jersey ( 4)

New Mexico ( 2)

New York (16)

North Carolina (13)

Ohio ( 4)

Oklahoma (10)

Oregon (19)

Pennsylvania ( 9)

South Carolina (13)

Tennessee ( 6)

Texas (23)

Virginia ( 4)

Washington ( 2)

West Virginia ( 1)

Wisconsin ( 4)

Wyoming ( 2)

Breakout of 1981 Heat-Related Fatalities by State

Alabama (13) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Henry County. Male, 65-74

— 2 Jefferson County Male, 65-74 Female, 85+

— 3 Lee County Females, 1-4, 15-19 Male, 20-24

— 1 Marengo County Female, 75-84

— 1 Marshall County Male, 75-84

— 1 Montgomery County Female, 25-34

— 1 Russell County Female, 55-64

— 1 Sumter County Male, 65-74

— 1 Tallapoosa County Male, 35-44

— 1 Walker County Female, 85+

Arizona (17) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900., excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Apache County Male, 35-44

–11 Maricopa Co. Females, 75-84, 85+; Males, 1-4, 35-44 (2), 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, 85+

— 5 Yuma County Female, 45-54 Males, 55-64, not noted (3)

–2 Tacna area, July 8-9; bodies of illegal immigrants found.[1]

Arkansas (14) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Crawford County Male, 65-74

— 1 Lawrence County Male, 35-44

— 1 Lonoke County Male, 55-64

— 2 Miller County Female, 65-74 Male, 65-74

— 2 Mississippi County Males, 25-34, 65-74

— 1 Monroe County Male, 35-44

— 1 Phillips County Male, 55-64

— 3 Pulaski County Female, 25-34 Males, 25-34 and 45-54

— 1 Sebastian County Male, 55-64

— 1 White County Female, 65-74

California (44)

–44 Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

–43 CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Contra Costa County Male, less than one-year-old

–10 Imperial County Female, 65-74 (2); Males, 35-44 (2), 55-64, 65-74 (3), unstated (2)

–1 Imperial County, Winterhaven, Sep 26. Male, 28, became lost in sand dunes.[2]

— 8 Los Angeles County Females, 45-54 (2), 55-64 (4); Males, 25-34 and 55-64

— 1 Madera County Female, 10-14

— 1 Orange County Female, 75-84

— 1 Placer County Female, 75-84

— 7 Riverside County Females, 45-54, 55-64 (2) Males, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74

— 3 Sacramento County Female, 10-14, 25-34 Male, 35-44

— 2 San Bernardino County Female, 55-64 Male, 20-24

— 1 San Bernardino Co., Barstow, area, Mojave Desert. Female, 75, after car stuck in sand.[3]

— 2 San Diego County Males, 55-64 and 75-84

— 2 San Joaquin County Males, 35-44 and 45-54

— 2 San Mateo County Males, 10-14 and 45-54

— 2 Santa Clara County Female, 65-74 Male, 45-54

— 1 Tulare County Male, 25-34

Connecticut ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Hartford County Female, 85+

— 1 New London County Female, 85+

Florida (10) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 4 Lushine. “Underreporting of Heat and Cold Related Deaths in Florida.” Figure 3.[4]

–10 CDC WONDER

–1 Alachua Co. Male, 25-34

–1 Duval County Male, 45-54

–1 Escambia Co. Female, 65-74

–1 Hillsborough Co. Male, 35-44

–1 Lake County Male, 75-84

–2 Miami-Dade Co. Female, 35-44 Male, 45-54

–1 Orange County Female, 65-74

–1 Pinellas County Male, 65-74

–1 Sarasota County Male, 65-74

Georgia (32)

–32 State. Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

–31 State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 2 Baldwin County Males, 55-64 and 65-74

— 4 Bibb County Female, 75-84 Males, 35-44, 55-64, and 65-74

— 1 Bleckley County Male, 65-74

— 1 Calhoun County Female, 75-84

— 1 Clayton County Male, 45-54

— 1 Colquitt County Male, 35-44

— 1 Dekalb County Male, 45-54

— 1 Fulton Co., Atlanta, July 17. Male teenage junior high school football player after practice.[5]

— 1 Fulton County Male, 65-74

— 1 Hall County Female, 35-44

— 1 Jefferson County Male, 45-54

— 3 Lowndes County Female, 25-34 Males, 55-64 and 65-74

–10 Muscogee County Females, 20-24, 35-44, 55-64 (2)

Males, 25-34, 45-54, 55-64 (2), 65-74 (2)

–7 Columbus, Muscogee County (6 during June 21-25).[6]

— 1 Peach County Female, 75-84

— 1 Richmond County Male, 15-19

— 1 Telfair County Female, 55-64

— 1 Washington County Male, 35-44

Illinois ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Cass County Male, 75-84

— 1 Champaign County Male, 75-84

— 1 Cook County Male, 20-24

— 1 Madison County Male, 65-74

Indiana ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Lake County Male, 20-24

— 1 Wabash County Female, 65-74

Iowa (12)

–12 State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Buchanan County Male, 75-84

— 1 Lee County Male, 25-34

— 1 Marshall County Male, 35-44

— 8 Polk County Females, 65-74, 75-84, 85+ (2);[7]

Males, 1-4,[8] 55-65,[9] 75-84, 85+[10]

— 1 Scott County Male, 25-34

–11 By July 14. UPI, “Heat wave claims 12^th victim.” The Telegraph, Nashua NH, 7-16-1981, 40.

Kansas ( 3) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Dickinson County Male, 75-84

— 1 Sedgwick County Male, 65-74

— 1 Wichita County Male, 35-44

Kentucky ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Harrison County Male, 75-84

— 1 Jefferson County Male, 65-74

Louisiana ( 6) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Bienville Parish Male, 65-74

— 2 Caddo Parish Female, 65-74 Male, 45-54

— 1 East Carroll Parish Male, 45-54

— 1 Morehouse Parish Male, 25-34

— St. Landry Parish Male, 55-64

Maryland ( 3) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 2 Baltimore City Males, 25-34 and 35-44

— 1 Prince George’s Co. Female, 55-64

Massachusetts ( 6) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Hampshire County Female, 85+

— 1 Middlesex County Male, 55-64

— 1 Norfolk County Female, 75-84

— 3 Suffolk County Females, 75-84, 85+ Male, 20-24

Michigan ( 5) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Kalamazoo County Male, 55-64

— 1 Sanilac County Female, 75-84

— 3 Wayne County Males, 35-44, 55-64 and 85+

Minnesota ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 2 Hennepin County Female, 35-44 Male, 25-34

— 1 Morrison County Male, 65-74

— 1 St. Louis County Female, 85+

Mississippi (11) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Alcorn County Female, 75-84

— 1 Chickasaw County Female, 75-84

— 1 Clay County Female, 85+

— 1 Forrest County Female, 65-74

— 1 Hinds County Male, 55-64

— 1 Rankin County Male, 45-54

— 1 Simpson County Female, 55-64

— 1 Smith County Male, 75-84

— 1 Warren County Female, 75-84

— 1 Washington County Male, 65-74

— 1 Wayne County Female, 65-74

Missouri (12)

–~12 MO DHSS. “Heat Related Illnesses/Deaths (Hyperthermia).” 5-2-2008.

— 12 CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–2 Buchanan Co. Female, 85+ Male, 85+

–7 Jackson County Females, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84 (2); Males, 24-34, 35-44, 75-84

–1 Lafayette County Female, 65-74

–1 Polk County Male, 55-64

–1 Scott County Female, 55-64

Nebraska ( 6)

— 6 Blanchard tally of fatalities based on locality breakouts below.

— 5 CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–1 Adams County Male, 35-44

–2 Douglas County Females, 65-74 and 85+

–1 Madison County Male, 25-34

–1 Saline County Male, 75-84

— 1 Jefferson County, Daykin, July 13. Heatstroke; male found in field; temps reached 100°.[11]

Nevada ( 5) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 5 Clark County Females, 25-34, 35-44, 55-64; Males 45-54 and 55-64

New Jersey ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Camden County Female, 65-74

— 1 Essex County Female, 75-84

— 1 Hudson County Male, 45-54

— 1 Monmouth Couth Female, 75-84

New Mexico ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 2 Bernalillo County Females, 1-4 and 85+

New York (16) (Highlights in yellow denote source other than CDC WONDER.)

–16 State. Blanchard tally of heat-related fatalities from locality breakouts below.

— 8 State. CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

–11 New York City, July 9-13. (NYC Health Chief Medical Examiner cited as source.)[12]

— 1 Bronx County, Bronx Psychiatric Center, July 11. Male, 28, no AC, 90° day.[13]

— 2 New York County [Manhattan] Females, 65-74 and 85+

— 1 Manhattan, July 10. Male, 38.[14]

— 2 Queens County Females, 45-54 and 75-84

— 1 Broome County Male, 45-54

— 1 Nassau County, New Hyde Park, July 11. Male, 35, after transfer from Queens hosp.[15]

— 1 Oneida County Male, 35-44

— 1 Wayne County Male, 45-54

— 1 Westchester County Female, 55-64

North Carolina (13) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Buncombe County Female, 55-64

— 2 Cabarrus County Female, 65-74 Male, 35-44

— 1 Davidson County Female, 75-84

— 1 Duplin County Male, 25-34

— 1 Durham County Male, 75-84

— 1 Forsyth County Male, 55-64

— 1 Hoke County Male, 35-44

— 1 Lee County Female, 75-84

— 1 Mecklenburg County Male 35-44

— 1 Nash County Male, 45-54

— 1 Robeson County Male, 55-64

— 1 Wake County Male, 35-44

— 5 State. Mirabelli and Richardson. “Heat-Related Fatalities in North Carolina.” Figure 1.

Ohio ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Butler County Female, 65-74

— 1 Cuyahoga County Male, 25-34

— 1 Franklin County Female, 25-34

— 1 Lucas County Female, 75-84

Oklahoma (10) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Cleveland County Male, 55-64

— 1 Garfield County Male, 55-64

— 1 Kingfisher County Male, 55-64

— 2 Logan County Female, 85+ Male, 65-74

— 1 Oklahoma County Female, 45-54

— 1 Okmulgee County Female, 65-74

— 1 Seminole County Male, 35-44

— 1 Tillman County Male, 55-64

— 1 Tulsa County Female, 65-74

–10 The Oklahoman (Pat Record), Oklahoma City. “City heat chalks up 2 deaths.” 7-28-1983.[16]

— 1 July 21. Male, 68, chopping wood, with temperature near 107°. NCDC. Storm Data.[17]

Oregon (19)

–>19 Blanchard tally of heat-related deaths using 13 for Multnomah and CDC for other locales.

–>13 Multnomah Co., Aug 9-11 (48 hour period). Heat related and heat aggravated deaths.[18]

— 8 CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Columbia County Male, 85+

— 1 Douglas County Male, 25-34

— 1 Jackson County Female, 45-54

— 1 Marion County Male, 45-54

— 2 Multnomah County Males, 65-74 and 85+

— 1 Polk County Male, 55-64

— 1 Umatilla County Male, 65-74

Pennsylvania ( 9) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 6 Philadelphia County Females, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-74; Males 25-34, 35-44, and 55-64

— 2 Schuylkill County Females, 35-44 and 75-84

— 1 York County Female, 65-74

South Carolina (13) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 2 Aiken County Female, 75-84 Male, 45-54

— 1 Anderson County Male, 35-44

— 2 Charleston County Females, 55-64 and 65-74

–1 June 18, heatstroke. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

— 1 Georgetown County Male, 55-64

— 1 Hampton County Male, 55-64

–1 June 19, heat. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

— 1 Laurens County Male, 45-54

— 2 Orangeburg County Female, 75-84 Male, 65-74

— 1 Richland County Male, 45-54

–1 June 19. NCDC Storm Data, 23-6, June 1981, p. 24.

— 1 Spartanburg County Male, 25-34

— 1 Sumter County Female, 45-54

Tennessee ( 6) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Hamilton County Male, 55-64

— 1 Putnam County Male, 35-44

— 3 Shelby County Females, 35-44, 65-74 and 75-84

–1 Memphis, July 19. Female, 37; apt. without air conditioning; high temp. was 97°.[19]

— 1 Wilson County Female, 65-74

Texas (23) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Anderson County Male, 25-34

— 1 Clay County Male, 65-74

— 2 Dallas County Female, 1-4 Male, 75-84

— 1 Ector County Male, 10-14

— 1 Gray County Female, 55-64

— 2 Harris County Female, 65-74 Male, 65-74

— 1 Jackson County Male, 65-74

— 1 Jefferson County Male, 45-54

— 1 Jones County Male, 85+

— 3 Liberty County Males, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64

— 1 Lubbock County Male, 35-44

— 1 Mitchell County Male, 65-74

— 1 Nueces County Female, 35-44

— 1 Rockwall County Male, 85+

— 2 Tarrant County Males, 45-54 and 75-84

— 1 Wharton County Male, 55-64

— 1 Wilbarger County Female, 75-84

Virginia ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Alexandria city Male, 75-84

— 1 Portsmouth city Female, 75-84

— 1 Richmond city Female, 75-84

— 1 Suffolk city Male, 65-74

Washington ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Thurston County Female, less than 1-year-old

— 1 Walla Walla County Male, 45-54

West Virginia ( 1) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Putnam County Male, 15-19

Wisconsin ( 4) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Door County Male, 55-64

— 1 Milwaukee County Male, 35-44

— 1 Sawyer County Male, 45-54

— 1 Sheboygan County Male, 75-84

Wyoming ( 2) CDC WONDER. ICD-9 E900, excessive natural heat/hyperthermia.

— 1 Converse County Male, 5-9

— 1 Washakie County Male, 55-64

Narrative Information

Aug 11: “Temperatures in Oregon reached 110 degrees setting off brush fires that forced the evacuation of at least 200 people….Dozens of homes have been destroyed in Oregon by brush fires and some 200 people had to leave Redmond, Ore. Two bigger fires burned about 5,000 acres in the Steens Mountain area 75 miles south of Bend in eastern Oregon. Temperatures peaked at 110 degrees Monday in Medford, Ore., the nation’s hot spot, and The Dalles, Portland and Salem had 107 degrees. Forecasters said temperatures across the Northwest were expected to climb into the 100s again today, pushing the heat wave into its sixth consecutive day….” (UPI. “110 in Oregon.” Ft. Madison, Ia. Democrat, 8-11-1981, p. 2.)

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Compressed Mortality File 1979-1998 (ICD-9 Code E900.0/Excessive heat – hyperthermia search for 1981). CDC WONDER On-line Database, compiled from Compressed Mortality File CMF 1968-1988, Series 20, No. 2A, 2000 and CMF 1989-1998, Series 20, No. 2E, 2003. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/cmf-icd9.html on May 20, 2017 7:41:13 PM

Lushine, James B. “Underreporting of Heat and Cold Related Deaths in Florida.” Miami, FL: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, NOAA. 1-6-2009 modification. Accessed 11-1-2015 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=fla_weather_casualties

Mirabelli, Maria C. and David B. Richardson. “Heat-Related Fatalities in North Carolina.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 95, no. 4, April 2005, pp. 635-637. Accessed 9-2-2015 at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449233/

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “Heat Related Illnesses/Deaths (Hyperthermia).” 5-2-2008. Accessed 12-23-2015 at: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/lsx/wcm/dhss_article_2008.pdf

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 42 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-50A5898E-3E70-41A7-BFC0-49EDA5279372.pdf

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 50 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.1673026488079813

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 8, August 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 29 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.7799228817998423

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 9, September 1981. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, 28 pages. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.6438014864540751

New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/nyregion/deaths-of-3-mental-patients-linked-to-heat-wave.html?mcubz=2

The Oklahoman (Pat Record) Oklahoma City. “City heat chalks up 2 deaths.” 7-28-1983. Accessed 2-19-2017 at: http://newsok.com/article/2033651

The Sun, Lowell, MA. “General: Jr. high football player dies from heat exhaustion.” 7-18-1981, p. 7. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-18-1981-p-7/?tag

United Press International. “110 in Oregon.” Ft. Madison, Ia. Democrat, 8-11-1981, p. 2. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-evening-democrat-aug-11-1981-p-2/?tag

United Press International. “East won’t cool off much before Tuesday.” Sunday Sun, Lowell, MA, 7-12-1981, p. A6. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jul-12-1981-p-6/?tag

United Press International. “Gets lost, dies.” Ft. Madison, IA Democrat, 8-11-1981. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-madison-evening-democrat-aug-11-1981-p-2/?tag

United Press International, “Heat wave claims 12^th victim.” The Telegraph, Nashua NH, 7-16-1981, p. 40. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nashua-telegraph-jul-16-1981-p-40/?tag

United Press International. “Heatwave to end.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 6-26-1981, p. 5. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jun-26-1981-p-5/?tag

United Press International. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981, p. 3. Accessed 5-22-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-jul-15-1981-p-3/?tag

Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “2 illegals die in Tacna desert; Border Patrol rescues 12 more.” 7-9-1981, p. 1. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/yuma-sun-jul-09-1981-p-1/?tag

Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Body of hitchhiker found in sand dunes.” 9-28-1981, p. 16. Accessed 5-21-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/yuma-sun-sep-28-1981-p-15/?tag

[1] Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “2 illegals die in Tacna desert; Border Patrol rescues 12 more.” 7-9-1981, p. 1.

[2] Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Body of hitchhiker found in sand dunes.” 9-28-1981, p. 16.

[3] United Press International. “Gets lost, dies.” Ft. Madison, IA Democrat, 8-11-1981. Identifies victim as Winifred Campbell, citing Deputy Coroner Marshall Franey, who “blamed the 110-degree heat for the woman’s death.” Highlighted in yellow to denote that this death is not included in CDC WONDER, and is thus an addition.

[4] Figure 3 is a chart showing heat deaths in one color and cold deaths in another on horizontal bar for each year. The fatality range shown on the left of chart is in increments of five, going up to thirty. The bars for each year are shown diagonally and show no numbers. This does not make them readily readable. One needs to measure with a ruler the bar showing the lowest combined deaths (1979), which appears to show one cold death and one heat. With the unit of measurement of one death then measured against the heat portion of the other bars, one can get an approximation of the heat deaths for each year. I say “approximate” in that by this method we counted 133 heat deaths over the 21-year period included in the graph, whereas the text of the article notes that there were 125. Repetitious measurement attempts gave us the same result. The article notes that the data came from death certificates collected by the Public Health Statistics Section, Office of Vital Statistics, Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services.

[5] The Sun, Lowell, MA. “General: Jr. high football player dies from heat exhaustion.” 7-18-1981, p. 7.

[6] United Press International. “Heatwave to end.” The Sun, Lowell, MA, 6-26-1981, p. 5.

[7] One of these deaths may well refer to death of Hazel Showalter, 86, of Des Moines, who died at Mercy Hospital from a heat stroke on July 14. (UPI. “Heat wave claims 12^th victim,” The Telegraph, Nashua, NH, 7-16-1981, p. 40.)

[8] This may well be reference to July 14 death of 20-month old Floyd Holmes, Jr. in Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.) UPI notes that baby had a body temperature of 109 degrees and attributed death to heat stroke.

[9] This may well be reference to July 14 death of Robert E. Bonstrom, 60, of Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.) UPI notes there were no home fans or AC.

[10] This may well be reference to July 14 death of John Kemach, 88, of Des Moines. (UPI. “Ten, including baby, die in blistering heat wave.” New Castle News, PA, 7-15-1981.)

[11] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, July 1981, p. 22.

[12] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981.

[13] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Writes: “New York City’s Chief Medical Examiner said yesterday that the deaths of two mental patients at state hospitals and that of another at a city hospital during last week’s spell of 90-degree weather were heat-related. The three patients were in wards that were not air-conditioned and two of them were in wards that, for safety reasons, had only small window openings. In addition, the three were receiving anti-psychotic drugs that lowered their ability to stand the heat, doctors familiar with the cases said. The Medical Examinter, Dr. Elliot M. Gross, said all three patients had registered high body temperatures and that their cause of death was ‘heat related,’…” Identified Bronx patient as Michael Stieglitz.

[14] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Victim identified as Albert Solano.

[15] New York Times (Ronald Sullivan). “Deaths of 3 Mental Patients Linked to Heat Wave,” 7-16-1981. Victim identified as Lloyd Callahan.

[16] “Last year [1982], 11 Oklahomans died in heat-related situations, compared to 10 in 1981…”

[17] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, p. 27.

[18] “Multnomah County Medical Examiner Dr. Larry Lewman said Tuesday [Aug 11] at least 13 people died of ‘heat-related or heat aggravated’ causes in the previous 48 hours….Tuesday’s high temperatures dropped below the 100-degree mark for the first time in several days in many Oregon cities. Portland’s 97-degree high Tuesday broke a string of four straight days of 100-degree weather.”

[19] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 23, No. 7, p. 30.

1981 — Summer (esp.), Heat, esp. CA/44, GA/32, TX/23, OR/19, AZ/17, NY/16, AR/14->345