Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Heat-related deaths in Philadelphia--1993

H G Mirchandani1, G McDonald, I C Hood

  • 1Medical Examiner's Office, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|June 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Heat-related deaths disproportionately affected elderly individuals during the 1993 Philadelphia heat wave. A postmortem definition is crucial for accurately assessing heat risks and informing public health interventions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

High-risk breast cancer screening with MRI: diagnostic performance of a local scoring system.

Clinical radiology·2025
Same author

Effects of the Size and Loading of Chrome-Tanned Leather Shavings on the Properties of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Compounds.

Polymers·2025
Same author

Early Initiation of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Patients With Acute Heart Failure and Renal Dysfunction: An Analysis of the TRANSITION Study.

Journal of cardiac failure·2023
Same author

Instrumental Labor: Reported to the Medical Society of Virginia.

The Southern medical record·2022
Same author

Sexual dimorphism of physical activity on cognitive aging: Role of immune functioning.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2020
Same author

Ménétrier's disease : a case of successful treatment using long-acting octreotide.

Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica·2019

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The 1993 Philadelphia heat wave resulted in numerous deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations.
  • Understanding the specific conditions contributing to heat-related fatalities is essential for public health preparedness.

Observation:

  • Elderly individuals with pre-existing conditions living alone in non-air-conditioned, upstairs bedrooms with closed windows were most affected.
  • These conditions exacerbated heat exposure, creating dangerously high internal temperatures.

Findings:

  • Standard clinical hyperthermia criteria were often unmet due to varying postmortem intervals.
  • A postmortem definition of heat-related death is proposed to accurately quantify mortality risk.

Related Experiment Videos

Implications:

  • Accurate case definition is vital for understanding the true burden of heat-related illness.
  • Public health agencies must implement targeted preventative measures to mitigate risks during extreme heat events.