Two elderly women fall victim to rising heat in St. Louis area

ST. LOUIS -- The apparent heat-related deaths of two elderly St. Louis area women have prompted renewed warnings from health officials to be especially vigilant when the mercury rises.

A neighbor found Betty J. Broccard, 73, and her pet dog dead on Saturday in the woman's Hazelwood house, where Broccard lived alone. Authorities said it was 90 degrees inside the home, which had no air conditioning or a fan. The windows were closed.

An autopsy Monday found that Broccard died of hyperthermia.

Authorities on Monday also ruled as heat-related the June 25 death of a 79-year-old woman in her St. Louis home, where she also lived alone. The dwelling, also found to be at least 90 degrees and with its windows closed, had air conditioning and a fan, though neither was turned on, investigators said.

Authorities were withholding that woman's name, pending the notification of out-of-town relatives.

The deaths came just weeks after two St. Louis women -- ages 49 and 45 -- were found dead in their homes early last month, apparently victims of overheating as the temperature edged into the lower 90s. In those cases, the women also left their windows closed and had no air conditioning.

"Many elderly people have a propensity to save money and they won't turn on their air conditioner," said Melba Moore, St. Louis' health commissioner. "The body cannot handle the heat. When temperatures quickly rise, the body can't adapt."