Climate and heat-related XXXX in Chicago, Illinois (2003-2006).

@entity341 @entity204 @entity6167
Extreme heat events are responsible for more @entity204 in the United States than floods, hurricanes and tornados combined. Yet, highly publicized events, such as the 2003 heat wave in Europe which caused in excess of 35,000 @entity204 , and the Chicago heat wave of 1995 that produced over 500 @entity204 , draw attention away from the countless thousands who, each year, fall victim to nonfatal health @entity341 and illnesses directly attributed to heat. The health impact of heat waves and excessive heat are well known. Cities worldwide are seeking to better understand heat-related illnesses with respect to the specifics of climate, social demographics and spatial distributions. This information can support better preparation for heat-related emergency situations with regards to planning for response capacity and placement of emergency resources and personnel. This study deals specifically with the relationship between climate and @entity6167 ( @entity6167 , emergency 911 calls) in Chicago, Illinois, between 2003 and 2006. It is part of a larger, more in-depth, study that includes urban morphology and social factors that impact heat-related emergency dispatch calls in Chicago. The highest occurrences of @entity6167 are located in the central business district, but are generally scattered across the city. Though temperature can be a very good predictor of high @entity6167 , heat index is a better indicator. We determined temperature and heat index thresholds for high @entity6167 . We were also able to identify a lag in @entity6167 as well as other situations that triggered higher (or lower) @entity6167 than would typically be generated for the temperature and humidity levels, such as early afternoon rainfall and special events.
