§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many death certificates issued in the three months ended December 1981 mentioned hypothermia; and what are the comparable figures for the same period for each of the previous 10 years.
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§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe numbers of death certificates issued in the December quarter 1981 which mention hypothermia are not available. Figures for the December quarter for the previous 10 years are as follows:
1971 99 1972 126 1973 148 1974 128 1975 150 1976 203 1977 138 1978 144 1979 82 1980 156 1981 n/a
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how often hypothermia was given as a cause of death for each of the last 10 years; and what is his estimate of the actual number of people who have died as a result of hypothermia, or where it is a contributory cause, for these years.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe total number of deaths in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available where hypothermia was mentioned as a cause of death are as follows:
1971 420 1972 492 1973 437 1974 401 1975 511 1976 585 1977 613 1978 708 1979 824 1980 596 These figures include the cases where hypothermia was mentioned by the doctor or coroner as a contributory cause of death. It is known that the number of deaths rises in cold weather, but this increase is not necessarily associated with the specific syndrome of hypothermia.