Posted on 08/13/2003 5:51:50 AM PDT by blam
Military beds for French heat victims
Hospitals are overwhelmed with heat victims
French military hospitals are to be used to help care for the heatwave casualties who are swamping the health system. More than 150 people are estimated to have died across France, most of them in Paris where temperatures have reached more than 40C (104F).
The French Red Cross is also preparing to help caring for the victims as wards fill to overflowing.
Refrigerated tents are being prepared as overflow mortuaries, Le Figaro newspaper reported, as existing facilities are stretched to breaking point.
"We are in an extremely difficult and tragic situation - with more people, we would be able to save lives"
Patrick Pelloux
Emergency doctors' association
"I would put the figure (for Paris dead) at just over 100," said Rose-Marie Van Lerberghe, in charge of health and social security services for hospitals in the city.
"Unfortunately, we fear that there will be another upsurge in the number of cases."
More than 800 people were treated in Paris hospitals betwen Thursday evening and Tuesday evening, she said.
"We are in an extremely difficult and tragic situation," said Patrick Pelloux, head of the emergency doctors' association. "With more people, we would be able to save lives."
Paris temperature has topped 40C
Power was cut from hundreds of Paris homes on Tuesday as the overheated earth caused shortcircuits in underground power systems.
French consumers have already been urged to use less power to head off the threat of power cuts, and nuclear power stations are discharging warmer-then-usual water into rivers to maintain output.
As the death toll mounts, the government has insisted there is no accurate way of measuring deaths from the heat, as many victims were already suffering from other conditions.
The announcement that military hospital beds would be made available came from French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, whose government has faced growing criticism for its perceived slow response to the crisis.
At-a-glance
Mr Raffarin, speaking to reporters while on holiday in Combloux in the French Alps, said the extra beds would particularly help the situation in the Paris area.
Most ministers are out of Paris for the traditional August holiday, drawing strong criticism from opposition parties and sections of the media that the crisis is being left unmanaged.
Le Monde, in an article headlined "Nonchalance", says: "The siesta is traditionally a means of conserving one's energy in warm climates. But can it be used as a method of government?"
The extreme heat, which has set records across Europe, has also killed up to 30 people in Spain.
In Italy, La Repubblica newspaper reported that around 20 people had been found dead in their homes in Turin in a single day, many suspected to be victims of the heatwave.
Forest fires are still ablaze in many parts of Europe. Twenty-one separate fires were being fought in France on Tuesday, said Mr Raffarin.
North African fire crews from Algeria have crossed the Mediterranean to Marseille to help in the fight, with 80 firefighters and more than a dozen water tankers.
In Italy, more than 20 fires were burning. German rail services were hit as fires were fought.
Some French vineyard owners have begun their harvest up to three weeks early, after France's hottest summer since World War II.
Swiss speed limits were lowered as ozone levels soared. The national temperature record was smashed on Monday - up from 39C (102F) to 41.5C (107F).
"Its hotter than a french whore on dollar night". Hope it melts all their cheese.
"surrendering" to the heat?
(someone had to say it)
At-a-glance
Mr Raffarin, speaking to reporters while on holiday in Combloux in the French Alps, said the extra beds would particularly help the situation in the Paris area.
enough said...
You beat me to it! (haven't had my coffee yet).
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