http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/64/comments The latest comments on the article 'Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States ' 2008-12-18T10:56:14Z http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/64/comments#325616 <p>I think I have the answer to R. C. Hunsaker's query (why so few heat deaths in Arizona). The SHELDUS database only records casualties from hazard <i>events</i>. Here in Arizona, we don't have heat events, we just have heat. (And occasional non-heat events.) That must be why SHELDUS records only 56 heat-event-related deaths in Arizona, compared to 951 in Illinois. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If the study looked at all hazard deaths, the picture would certainly be different. I don't know total numbers for Arizona, but I do know there have been at least 4,000 heat-related deaths of undocumented migrants along the southwest border since the 1990s. (Before changes in federal border policy, there were none -- speaking of contributing factors ...) But neither these deaths nor any other "uneventful" deaths are in SHELDUS.</p> Joseph Hill 2008-12-18T10:56:14Z http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/64 Borden et al. International Journal of Health Geographics 7 64 Wed Dec 17 09:21:09 GMT 2008 http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/64/comments#325613 <p>If heat were the primary cause of death, then what explains the relatively few deaths in Arizona, for example? It has a large, vulnerable elderly population, and very high summer temperatures. Looking further, I would hazard a guess that poverty (inability to afford central air and thus nighttime cooling) and genetic predisposition to heart disease, both leading to heat deaths, would be the more likely ultimate culprits.</p> K.C. Hunsaker 2008-12-17T19:06:25Z http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/7/1/64 Borden et al. International Journal of Health Geographics 7 64 Wed Dec 17 09:21:09 GMT 2008