More Europeans die from the heat each year than Americans die from guns
- Thread starter EviLore
- Start date
SirKicksalot
Member
Window AC is not banned, it's just bulky and cumbersome because our windows don't work like American windows.
Heatwaves are so much worse... Much hotter and longer than a decade ago, and in the early 2000s I did not even consider buying AC.
I installed a 12k BTU split AC with inverter in my room two years ago. It's a life saver in the summer, but I use it more in the winter.
Heatwaves are so much worse... Much hotter and longer than a decade ago, and in the early 2000s I did not even consider buying AC.
I installed a 12k BTU split AC with inverter in my room two years ago. It's a life saver in the summer, but I use it more in the winter.
newtypepilot
Member
AC = big increase in electricity bill and also the fact that radiators exhaust heat means in a dense area a bunch of them will make the exterior even hotter.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Heat islands caused by human cities are actually because of all the concrete and asphalt and glass which reflect and absorb ungodly amounts of heat, not use of A/C
Bojji
Member
kevboard
Member
HeisenbergFX4
Member
I am on a similar yearly plan for my heat pump system that's $200 a year but that includes a new Aprilaire filter every 6 months and 10 year warranty on parts and labor
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
Think he meant heat related deaths number in the US not using the same methodology as Europe. There is no way there arent more than 1600 heat related heart attacks in the US each year.
12Goblins
Lil’ Gobbie
Yeah this is pretty much the only solution for most Europeans. Not ideal. It's something they would basically never use and something nobody has storage for.there are ok-ish adaptors for the tube ones tho.
Dr.Guru of Peru
played the long game
You're referring to your OP where you mention Nature and EAA? The EAA is citing journal papers, including a few from Nature. The statistic is still an excess mortality statistic, which differs from what's been reported in the USA. Similar discrepancies came up during COVID where excess death statistics outnumbered actual reported deaths. It's not an apple to apple comparison.
AJUMP23
Parody of actual AJUMP23
It is around 75 to 100 dollars more a month. And I run natural gas in the winter.
Go_Ly_Dow
Member
I've never heard of someone dying from heat inside their own home.
If people are dying from heat then its outside from heat stroke whilst working in extreme heat or if they are elderly.
Also, I would wager your average European walks a lot more than your average American.
One reason being the design of European towns and city's make these places very walkable, compared to the urban planning system in the US in which a car is essential.
Even with this supposed higher rate of heat deah, Europeans on average are living a good 2-5 years longer than Americans - check the life expectancy.
If people are dying from heat then its outside from heat stroke whilst working in extreme heat or if they are elderly.
Also, I would wager your average European walks a lot more than your average American.
One reason being the design of European towns and city's make these places very walkable, compared to the urban planning system in the US in which a car is essential.
Even with this supposed higher rate of heat deah, Europeans on average are living a good 2-5 years longer than Americans - check the life expectancy.
Last edited:
Nydius
Member
91 is an average day for me here in Southeast Oklahoma from around late May through early October.
Indeed. A lot of people don't seem to realize how much further south the US is relative to Europe. If I take the latitude of where I grew up in Virginia set the longitude to 0, it's smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of eastern Spain and just above the coast of Northern Africa, not too far from Algiers. And that's the "mid-atlantic". A lot of people (and by this I mean Americans) have this idea that we're like a straight line away from the UK.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Hong Kong is by a wide margin the most densely populated location on EarthHeat has to go somewhere, it goes outside. From google Ai:
No European city has that kind of population density. Most cities which have enormous populations, like Tokyo, Shanghai, and Jakarta, are extremely spread out
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
We're talking higher than 28C. That's the temperature my AC units are detecting right now in my house, at 9:20 AM, and it's perfectly tolerable (hence the AC is off). But when I got home last night, it was 32C at 11 PM. And right now temperatures in general here are milder than last week, and milder than last year in July too.I don't know the specifics, but he has three floors, and all three will have AC when it's done.
it varies from person to person I'm sure, it's currently 28C in the room I'm sitting in and it doesn't bother me at all, nor am I sweating.
Cyberpunkd
Banned
It's a well perpetuated myth. Check all the lists, people are shocked that Paris is near the top.
Just to drive the point home - Paris has approx. 3-4 times the population density of Hong Kong.
Last edited:
StreetsofBeige
Member
there are ok-ish adaptors for the tube ones tho.
Wow. Interesting AC. Never seen something like this before with tubes. Only external AC I've ever seen are the big boxy window type.
Mattyp
Not the YouTuber
Reminds me of being in Europe for an 'extreme' heat wave they called it in 2017, the units were fucking unbearable.
But then you start looking around, realising none of these units or apartment complexes can be equiped with ducted system it's just impossible. I doubt the grid would be able to handle the load either if it's been designed for that, then upgrading mains to every residence. I have no idea how they fix this going forward.
Get home to Australia and enjoying a frosty 17c or perfect 20c throughout the entire house year round completely hidden you take it for granted.
But then you start looking around, realising none of these units or apartment complexes can be equiped with ducted system it's just impossible. I doubt the grid would be able to handle the load either if it's been designed for that, then upgrading mains to every residence. I have no idea how they fix this going forward.
Get home to Australia and enjoying a frosty 17c or perfect 20c throughout the entire house year round completely hidden you take it for granted.
Another thing is just building design. When I was in spain the apartment complexes (that one at least) had a central well with apartments around the sides, so every unit could have air flow from the outside into and up this well, creating a draft all day. Plus while it was hot during the day, it cooled off more at night than the typical american south so overall it was pretty tolerable without a/c in the summer. Old southern homes had high ceilings and were designed for air flow, but modern design is often air tight and compartmentalized, completely reliant on a/c for temp control and even safe ventilation. Only in the past decade or so has home insulation of the usual matchstick built american home really been improved to help regulate the home and deemphasize a/c. Alas, I don't have a home like that so my a/c blasts all day during the summer, sorry power grid 
Unknown Soldier
Member
Bojji
Member
For my apartment I just need 2x fans and they work great. No such thing as "no escape" (maybe in work with no AC).
I found some interesting maps ~2017, 2018:
USA is closer to north Africa geographically so it's not a surprise.
But Europe is getting hotter and hotter so I expect AC sells to skyrocket in the next few years (I even saw some ACs in the building that I live in, I never expected it few years ago)
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
Geez, 20C in summer? I'm perfectly happy with anything between 24 and 30.
Magic Carpet
Gold Member
I've got several heating and air companies in my phones contact list just in case the A/C or Heater ever give out.
Also have 2 small emergency window units that can be setup and plugged into a regular outlet if the main A/C goes out.
However if the electric power ever goes out, we are screwed. Really need to get an emergency generator setup.
Also have 2 small emergency window units that can be setup and plugged into a regular outlet if the main A/C goes out.
However if the electric power ever goes out, we are screwed. Really need to get an emergency generator setup.
P:axMagellanic
Member
I love the summer. North west England which is the wettest region in the country so it gets humid, but fuck it.
I was in Rome last year. 40 degrees on top of st peters basilica. The only time in my life I thought I was going to die. Sweat literally pooling in my ass crack whilst some lunatic tour guide is waffling on.
I was in Rome last year. 40 degrees on top of st peters basilica. The only time in my life I thought I was going to die. Sweat literally pooling in my ass crack whilst some lunatic tour guide is waffling on.
mopspear
Member
To give some context, only about 41% of US gun deaths are violent with the rest being mainly suicide and then some accidents. The percentage of what type of weapon was used is classified confusingly but most of them seem to be handgun-related and not from rifles. I don't own a gun and I think they are scary to be perfectly honest. I do think they are cool and important and I also think the information I added here is dishonestly left out sometimes. Not by OP, I just mean a lot of people with opinions to express.
Connificent
Al Pachinko, Konami President
Yes I sleep in my truck
Days like these...
Have a Blessed Day
Aces High
Gold Member
We should make this standard in buildings.
Connificent
Al Pachinko, Konami President
We cant build in the Netherlands lol
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
don't think this has to do with old people being outside
I live in California, and our desert cities, like Palm Springs, are nothing but old people playing golf all day in +100 weather
they stay hydrated and take advantage of other ways of regulating their temperature, such as going indoors or going under shade when needed
visit desert towns in California, or even much of Arizona, and you'll tons of people in their 70s or older doing recreational activities in +100 degree weather. I guess it is possible us Californians are also just better acclimated for heat.
whenever I hear about tons of people dying in UK from a heatwave, it does seem largely avoidable
I live in California, and our desert cities, like Palm Springs, are nothing but old people playing golf all day in +100 weather
they stay hydrated and take advantage of other ways of regulating their temperature, such as going indoors or going under shade when needed
visit desert towns in California, or even much of Arizona, and you'll tons of people in their 70s or older doing recreational activities in +100 degree weather. I guess it is possible us Californians are also just better acclimated for heat.
whenever I hear about tons of people dying in UK from a heatwave, it does seem largely avoidable
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
A lot of elderly Italians surely don't stay outside a lot in the heat.
I think part of the problem is, when you've acclimatized to the heat because you've had it all your life, you've developed ways of coping with it. When I visited the US in the mid 90s, the heat was simply unbelievable compared to what we had at home. Orlando was a nightmare with high humidity outside, and freezing AC blasting on your neck the second you stepped into any building. I was just a teenager, but that would probably get me sick quickly these days.
Average temperatures in Europe have risen quite quickly, and people here complain about the heat but still act like nothing has changed. So they drink little fluids, don't eat enough, sleep terribly because of excessive heat, sweat a lot, and do zero activity because it's too hot.
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
I live in the USA but my parents are from Europe and I've spent a ton of time there
last time I was in Italy during the summer, I always had a water bottle in my hand and was drinking non stop given that it can get pretty dang hot and there is basically zero AC in Italy
I was shocked to see how little liquids my friends and family were drinking. it does seem largely an educational problem. then again, these same people argued with me that smoking isn't bad for you, so yeah. I do think if people just took precautions, like drinking a ton of more water, a lot of this could be avoided
on top of all this, they were wearing a ton of cotton, and layers. they were not dressed appropriately for the weather. I wear synthetic blends when it is over 100 and it does wonders for you keeping you cool
Last edited:
Reizo Ryuu
Member
...I mean obviously, this is a bit of a silly comparison.
There aren't high temperatures year round in most of europe, these heat waves are sudden spikes in very short periods of time, so it might be 22C one day, and then 35C the next, and then summer ends and it's below 15 for most of the year.
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
yeah but I've also heard that the degree humans are able to acclimate is largely blown out of proportion
the bigger problem, as others mentioned, is not drinking fluids, not dressing appropriately, not getting reprieve from the heat
all my family lives in Europe. I've witnessed this all with my own eyes and I'm sure most Europeans here wouldn't even disagree with me
Reizo Ryuu
Member
Yes but the point is that it's sudden, so it catches people off guard, it's definitely not people dying from heat inside
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
this isn't unique to Europe though. I just came back from Chicago where it was raining and cold in the morning then close to 100 a few hours later.
this is actually pretty normal in Chicago in spring and fall.
it is also a very walkable city where the streets are always packed. yet people aren't dying.
Reizo Ryuu
Member
Nobody said it was?
The premise of the thread was that the deaths might be AC related, which is extremely unlikely, and as others have already pointed out there's probably a big difference in reporting methods of these "deaths by heat", so if you're now thinking people are just dropping dead in droves on the street, that's not happening either.
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
My whole point is that this could largely be prevented if people took basic precautions like drinking water and dressing cooler
The Chicago example was to show that isn't a matter of acclimation. It's that Europeans don't know what to do when it's hot, hence the disparate death rates in places with similar weather.
It is?
ResilientBanana
Member
I went to Italy and I will have to say, even the AC in Europe will kill you. The AC was blowing in my face all night in an airbnb, I woke up with a sore throat and a bacterial lung infection as well as double pink eye. Fun times.
Reizo Ryuu
Member
As mentioned it's probably much lower due to how the deaths are reported, the people that are dying were most likely already one bad day away or genuinely caught by surprise by a high heat + high humidity combo.
Definitely, it's generally much cooler inside than outside even without AC; few days ago it was 36C here, but inside it didn't go above 29C.
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
take this with a grain of salt because ChatGPT, but I asked it for some stats on indoors vs outdoor deaths. This does largely seem to be an AC issue after all. Majority of Europeans are dying indoors form heat whereas in the USA heath deaths are largely outdoors, suggesting this is indeed an AC issue:
**Do most people in Europe die indoors or outdoors during heatwaves?**
**Short answer:** *Most heat-related deaths in Europe happen indoors.*
This might surprise some people who imagine heat deaths mostly happening to people working outside or collapsing on the street. In reality, the majority of fatalities happen quietly, inside people's homes — especially to older adults who live alone.
---
**
Estimated breakdown:*** **Indoors: \~70% of deaths**
* Mainly older adults (65+), people with chronic health conditions, or limited mobility
* Often living alone in apartments without air conditioning
* Many don't recognize the danger or are unable to take action to cool down
* **Outdoors: \~30% of deaths**
* Includes homeless individuals, street cleaners, construction workers, and athletes
* These deaths are usually more visible (e.g., collapsing from heatstroke) but make up a smaller share overall
---
**
Why are indoor deaths so common in Europe?*** Many European homes are built to *retain* heat for winter, not release it during summer
* Most residential buildings (especially in Northern and Western Europe) **don't have AC**
* Top-floor apartments and older buildings can get extremely hot during heatwaves
* Vulnerable people may keep windows closed due to noise, pollution, or security concerns
* Some people underestimate the danger or don't feel hot even while their body is overheating
---
**
Real-world examples:*** In the **2003 European heatwave**, over **70,000 people died**, mostly elderly and mostly indoors
* In **2022**, there were over **60,000 excess heat-related deaths** across Europe — again, mainly indoor fatalities
* Spain, France, and Italy consistently see high numbers of indoor deaths during summer heat spikes
---
**
Important takeaways:*** Heatwaves kill silently and often *indoors* — not just in the streets
* Elderly people, especially those living alone in hot homes, are most at risk
* Having access to air conditioning or cooling centers makes a big difference
* Public health efforts now focus on checking in on vulnerable people at home
---
**TL;DR:**
During heatwaves in Europe, most people who die do so *inside their homes*, not outside. It's not just about sun exposure — it's about sustained heat, isolation, and lack of cooling.
Last edited:
I collect VHS tapes
Gold Member
70% of the deaths happen indoors. if people are dying inside, its an AC issue. or at least could be avoided with AC.
I didn't take into consideration how differently EU buildings are built. sounds like they can sort of become ovens.
Last edited:
Reizo Ryuu
Member
It's not really an "AC issue" when the people who are dying are already that weak constitution wise, but yes as you say it's something that might've been avoided with an AC.
As for the reported deaths, since we're bringing LLMs into this, this is what grok says:
And the EEA and Nature data?
