title: Heat-related deaths--United States, 1993.
abstract: From July 1 through July 13, 1993, the heat wave in the eastern United States has been implicated as the direct cause of or a contributing factor to 84 deaths among persons residing in the Philadelphia area. In Philadelphia County, the medical examiner (ME) lists hyperthermia as a contributing factor leading to death if a decedent is elderly or infirm and was exposed to a hot environment. However, reporting of hyperthermia on a death certificate depends on the criteria of individual MEs or coroners. This article describes three case reports of heat-related deaths in other parts of the United States in 1993, summarizes risk factors for this problem, and reviews measures to prevent heat-related illness.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002980:Climate; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000401:mortality; D006359:Heat Exhaustion / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology