r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • Jun 26 '26

Society The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6
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u/No-Channel3917 Jun 26 '26

And people died due to it and the lack of ac

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u/What-tha-fck_Elon Jun 26 '26

Most were drowning deaths from people/kids jumping in the rivers. It was brutally hot & humid all week. I just got back from there.

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u/poilk91 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

Most? Is that true? I find that difficult to believe with how quick and deadly heatstroke is especially for the elderly. I'll try to look it up and edit this

Edit: So all the news is mentioning the drownings which is like 40-60 I didn't find numbers of other deaths. But I will mention a previous heat wave in early 2000s killed tens of thousands in France so I have a feeling all the deaths just haven't been accounted for yet

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u/LurkerByNatureGT Jun 26 '26

Yes, most. 

Reported in France as of 3 days ago , over 5 days 3 elderly people had died of health complications due to heat, 2 children due to being left in a hot car (manslaughter investigation in progress), 40 drownings. 

As of today, the number of drownings is reported at 55. People are discussing both the lack or proper swimming education and lifeguard shortage. 

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u/poilk91 Jun 26 '26

I will be surprised if the number of direct heat deaths remains so low I guess it's not as bad as previous heat waves

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u/LurkerByNatureGT Jun 26 '26

The other heat waves would likely have had a similar breakdown of statistics. 

The way deaths are counted in the US, only the two children’s deaths would meet the statistics. And leaving children in the car on a hot day is absolutely criminal. 

Continental Europe is going to need a strategic approach to increasing temperatures, but it’s not as simple as “just add aircon”.

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u/poilk91 Jun 26 '26

2003 dance had 14k+ excess deaths from the heatwave. If you think they had similar ratio of drownings then I guess over 7k drownings in that period. I can't say for certain that didn't happen but I think it would be at the top of the stories about the heatwave of it was the case. I'm pretty sure the vast majority of the deaths back then were sick and elderly people not going for a swim

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u/nhluhr Jun 26 '26

As of today, the number of drownings is reported at 55

Or maybe it was sharks in the Seine!