Pages

Thursday, September 23, 2010

10.5 Deaths to Avoid - Natural Catastrophe

Physician's Notebooks 10 - http://physiciansnotebook.blogspot.com - See Homepage
Update 21 Septr 2021. 
5. Natural Catastrophe
PRESCIENT! 26 Years Later!  Learn how Paulie Jankowitz survived the Great Heat Wave then!
In July 1995, a heat wave hit Chicago with temperatures >100 degrees F (>38 degrees C) for one week and 739 people died. On 15 July alone 365 died, all from heat. (Cf., 30 June 2021, in Pacific NW USA.) More and better use of air coolers could have greatly reduced deaths.
Most people are unprepared for catastrophe. But the person who wants to live longest prepares, at least in mind. Ideally one should be doing seminar on natural catastrophes. Useful is to study survivors. Those who die in heat wave are old and poor, forced to live alone in low-cost housing with poor electricity and sparse, often poorly working, fixtures. And the old are unable to adjust to heat or cold.
   Paulie Jankowitz was old and lived in a low rental without a cooler. Her life was saved by the good advice that in case of too much heat, go out to seek help quickly. So on the heat wave's second day, which turned out the most deadly, she rose early, walked down stairs (elevator had stopped) and got city bus to nearby cooled supermarket where she bought cherries and got strength. After several hours she returned home. She turned on battery-powered fan, and lay in bed surviving the heat wave because she did not just wait for it to kill her but instead made use of local services and good advice.
   From Paulie's example, anticipate natural catastrophe and study prevention and response. And, with Global Warming upon us, for the young person planning her or his life, the advice for today is: in North America, Go Winnipeg, young man or woman! (To read about it, click on 12.62 Winnipeg ) In Asia, Go Russian Far East! In Europe, Go Scandinavia! In southern hemisphere, Go Australia or New Zealand! And for Spanish speaker, Go Argentina or Chile!     
 END OF CHAPTER. To read next click 10.6 Atheism and Healthy Longevity


No comments: