The freezing cold in Germany is a deadly threat for homeless people: Already ten of them have died this winter after research by the Federal Association for Homelessness on the street. In addition, another suspected case, said CEO Werena Rosenke. Homeless people have frozen in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Dusseldorf.
Since federal, state and local governments did not provide official statistics on cold deaths, the definition is not always easy, said Rosenke. The working group bases its nationwide census on media reports. "It's about people who died on the road due to cold," she explained. "Even heart failure can be related to hypothermia." Often autopsy reports would not be public - or cause no cause of death.
The consortium has been counting cold weather in Germany since the beginning of the 1990s. 314 cases have since been documented, reported Rosenke. In 38 other people, there is a suspicion that hypothermia was a cause of death. In the past, 20 to 30 cases were known each year. "There has been something to do with cold busses or cold patrols in many cities," says Rosenke. Refrigeration telephones, which citizens can call for help when they see homeless people outside at night, are also helpful.
Emergency Quarters do not let everyone in
In Berlin, the number of homeless people is estimated at several thousand, many of them from Eastern Europe. This winter there are about 1200 emergency sleeping places. The number had been increased again compared to previous years, the cold relief started for the first time in October and extends to April. In addition, two subway stations remain open at night. Refrigerated buses drive freezing people to quarters. Homeless outdoor camps sometimes leave Berlin's Mitte district clear.
The fact that homeless people, despite icy nights, did not visit any of the available emergency quarters sometimes also had something to do with restrictions on admission. Anyone who is drunk on alcohol, with a dog or with major mental health problems on their doorstep should not get into the heat at every facility.
Organ failure due to hypothermia
Many Berlin relief agencies such as the city mission are generous with the inlet and show no people in bitter cold. However, the potential for violence among people has also increased from the street, it is said. Someone who threatens other guests or employees sometimes can not stay and has to look for a new accommodation.
The biggest challenge for German municipalities is the working community in dealing with homeless EU citizens. That's how the number of people without perspective grew, who were often cheated out of their pay at work in Germany and then landed on the street.
"It's up to the cities, and not just in winter," said Rosenke. "These people, too, have rights, and their claims to the social system must be examined individually." Migration within the EU will tend to increase, as the poverty gap between states does not close in the medium term but tends to increase.
Cold can be life-threatening for humans because the body gradually cools down and important internal organs fail. At less than 20 degrees body temperature, the lethal threshold is generally considered by doctors to be exceeded. It usually comes to heart failure. But even at less than 26 degrees body temperature, a person is often no longer responsive. Normal are around 37 degrees.
How much cold a single person can withstand depends on many factors. Not only temperature, wind, moisture and clothing play a role, but also bodybuilding and muscle work.
That alcohol helps against the cold is a mistake: it accelerates hypothermia. Very drunk people often do not notice the mortal danger. They feel warm, although their internal organs are about to collapse.