Evening star., 1940-07-30
Rutland Says Heat
Claims More Lives
Than Records Show
High Temperatures Sop
Reserve Strength Of Old
And Children, He Asserts

The continued wave of torrid
weather undoubtedly is taking a far
greater toll Of lives throughout the
country than is recorded in official
reports of heat prostration deaths,
DR.. George c. Rutland, District
health officer, declared today.
He reached this conclusion from
general observation as a physician
and from casual studies he has made
of the increased number of deaths
reported in Washington. He has
directed his staff to make a more
comprehensive comparative analysis
of deaths over a period of time to
determine the effect of excessive
heat on public health.
The study is being made by JOS
eph B. Irvine. chief of the Bureau
of Vital Statistics, who already noted
there were 900 deaths reported here
in the week ending Sunday morning,
as compared with 129 the week be-
fore. 160 two weeks before and 1913
three weeks before.
Deaths Increase Over Nation.
Mr.. Irvine also noted q similar
rise in the Baltimore death rate and
in report of vital statistics for the
Nation. Both show a sharp upturn
in the number of deaths during and
following heat waves.
Dr. Ruhland said that, aside from
sunstroke and heat prostration
deaths, the heat wave has taken an
increased toll, particularly among
elderly persons and young children.
He said persons who already are
sick are particularly affected.
Continued excessive heat, the
health officer said, serves to drain
the reserve strength of the old, the
young and the sick, and it is very
likely that many died for this rea-
son, whereas under more moderate
temperatures they probably would
have survived.
DR.. Rutland said persons suf-
fering from cardiac troubles and
children with gastro-intestinal all
ments are subject to loss of reserve
strength from the heat. He ex-
planned also that excessive tempera-
lures draw salt out of q person S
system and dehydrate the body.
Believes in Closing Offices.
The health officer said he believes
in the practice OF closing Offices
when temperatures become exces-
sively high. Granting that some
persons released early may not
make proper use of the time of
DR.. Rutland said he still believed
in the practice because the officials
would have responsibility, in some
measure, if any Of the workers suf-
fered because they were kept at
work. Under such conditions, he
said, officials cannot expect to get
much work out of their employees
so that little is lost, whereas, II
the employees are released the wise
ones find means of staying out of
the sun and return to work in better
condition.
The health officer also said he
had noted a considerable improve
ment in the operation of air con-
ditioning plants in theaters, Office
buildings and other places. Some
years ago, he said, there was a ten
dency to keep these places too cold,
with the result that persons going
into them from the street, wet with
perspiration, were threatened with
colds or worse. The Health Depart
ment a year or two ago conducted
an educational campaign to get bet
ter management of the air-condi-
tioning plants and, generally speak
ing, DR.. Rutland said he believed
this was being accomplished.
There is also something good to
be found in merely keeping the air
stirred up in an Office" said DR.
Rutland, referring to the use OF
electric fans. There are some Offices
in this District Building that would
be better for the workers if. they
had fans to keep the air in motion,
but there are some officials who are
not convinced of this" he added.