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6,165 treated for heat exhaustion in week to July 19

17 Comments

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday that 6,165 people nationwide were taken to hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion between July 13 and July 19. The figure was double the week before when 3,058 people were treated.

The agency said 14 deaths had been attributed to the heat during the same weeklong period, Fuji TV reported.

By prefecture, Saitama had the highest number of people being treated for heat exhaustion, at 605, followed by Tokyo (578), Osaka (340) and Kanagawa (339). Fifty-four perecent of patients were aged 65 or older.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said the Japanese archipelago continues to be in the grip of extreme heat brought on by a high pressure system colliding with warm air and the end of the rainy season. The scorching weather is expected to continue through the weekend.

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17 Comments
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If you mean that the records were for all time, you are wrong.

Didn't say that, did I?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As for the other 46% who suffered from it during the aforementioned period, and I'm guessing they're all kids

You guessed wrong. By a mile.

http://www.fdma.go.jp/neuter/topics/heatstroke/pdf/270721-sokuhouti.pdf

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Someone should tell the Kansai region about the end of the rainy season because it won't stop raining....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There are plenty of ways that individuals can help avoid the risk of heatstroke, and symptoms to look for. As for the other 46% who suffered from it during the aforementioned period, and I'm guessing they're all kids -- STOP HAVING SPORTS EVENTS ON DIRT FIELDS IN THE PEAK OF DAY! I know sending them off to 'club' is cheap babysitting in Japan, but there needs to be someone who can say 'no' when it is ridiculously hot and sunny outside.

Probably not. Based on the June figures, the second largest number was adult between 18-64.

http://www.fdma.go.jp/neuter/topics/houdou/h27/07/270722_houdou_1.pdf

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I pity the children who have to participate in sporting events. Schools should be banned from outdoor activities after a certain temperature and humidity

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Someone needs to send Aeon a memo to get them to turn their freaking AC on.

With various reactors unable to re-start, due to public outcry, lots & lots of memos are being blocked. The weak ¥ and wear n' tear of imported energy will soon force every economic hub, in this country, to accept the memo.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Someone needs to send Aeon a memo to get them to turn their freaking AC on.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I suffered heat exhaustion walking through NY city last year. dizzy, felt nausious, faint, slurred speech. Told my brother, "Hey lets stop in the bar here." downed some orange juice, ice water and 20 minutes later we back enjoying NY city. Why go to the hospital and destroy your day?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Since when did it start being called 'heat exhaustion'? A WHOLE lot more happens to your body than getting tired. Was 'heatstroke' offensive to people who had suffered strokes?

In any case, I wish they'd stop predicting things will be cooler tomorrow, the next day, or next week and just say, "Guys, it's summer. Deal with it." I get pretty tired of the meteorological agency promising cooler weather only to see the mercury hit record highs.

That said, I'm with Disillusioned in saying that this isn't anything compared to what he had two years ago and in the years preceding (last year by comparison was cooler... or at least it felt that way on the whole). Two years ago we often saw the temperature pass 40 in some reasons, and not just for one day but days in a row, with it being more than 35 for quite a long period of time. I remember riding my bike and feeling like I was on fire. Of course you need to take care regardless of whether it's near 35 or 40, but I wish people had memories longer than what the temperature was like yesterday and that the same people who complain about the heat were only a few weeks back complaining about the cold.

There are plenty of ways that individuals can help avoid the risk of heatstroke, and symptoms to look for. As for the other 46% who suffered from it during the aforementioned period, and I'm guessing they're all kids -- STOP HAVING SPORTS EVENTS ON DIRT FIELDS IN THE PEAK OF DAY! I know sending them off to 'club' is cheap babysitting in Japan, but there needs to be someone who can say 'no' when it is ridiculously hot and sunny outside.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It's not the heat, it's the humidity. Equally, it's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

Himajin's right about the humidity, though.

See Wikipedia, "Heat index". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_index

33C with 95% humidity equals 57C, and Wikipedia also says, "Exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 8 °C ." Definitely quite hot.

Think I'll just stay in here near the air conditioner.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

19 places broke temperature records in Japan last week

If you mean that the records were for all time, you are wrong. Those temperature records were for the particular time of the year they occurred. In absolute values, the same high temperature happen every year in Japan in the Kanto and Kansai regions. Like tokyoclambake said, Japan is not Norway, those high temperatures happen every year, it's not like that the population is foreign to it.

We would then expect far less people treated for heat exhaustion (even though this number is arguably still low when reported to the total population living in very hot areas) which really comes down to a lack of common sense when dealing with heat that the people have here combined with the reason of having abused for decades the air conditioning to a point that they can't adapt anymore to the heat.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The highest temp was 33'!

Another case of 'if it's not (hot, windy, rainy) in my neighborhood then the report (about high temps, typhoon winds and torrential rain) isn't true. It was not 33 everywhere. Osaka as been 36 and 37 last week, some areas of Kyushu were 39.8 degrees. That's hot! 33 can feel quite hot if the humidity is high enough. The humidity in the Kobe area today is 96%, it's going to feel hot regardless of what the temp is. It was 36C out at the family cemetery Wednesday, with very high humidity, it's quite miserable. 19 places broke temperature records in Japan last week, many of the cases of heat exhaustion were in those areas.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In many cases of those who had heat exhaustion, it's "stupid is as stupid does". Much of Japan needs to adapt culturally to be as a tropical country 100 days/ year (as it is now tropical).

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm not entirely sure about other parts of Japan, but here in Kochi we've hardly had any sunshine at all what with the rainy season and now these typhoons hanging around. I dread to think what's gonna happen when the sun finally returns and the 'real' summer begins - if it ever does.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is an exceedingly preventable problem (in most cases); the education on the subject has been in place for years; drink lots of water, stay cool, don't exert oneself in the hottest time of the day. I can understand old people who are unable to take care of themselves, but these numbers are ridiculous. I could even understand the high numbers if it was suddenly this hot in the Yukon or Norway, but it's Japan in July-IT'S HOT. It is NOT a surprise and it was hot last year and the year before that! I also think coaches and teachers are negligent when their charges are requiring hospitalization for heatstroke/heat exhaustion - let the kids drink and rest properly.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Oh c'mon! Seriously? Tell me when it gets hot! It's obvious that, too many people have no idea how to prevent heat stroke after the temps reach the high twenties and low thirties. The highest temp was 33'! That is not hot! It's high time the government spent some public money on a public awareness campaign to teach these mullets why they need to drink water when it's hot. They should also explain to them that, green tea is a diuretic and they should not drink it on hot summer days. Gees!

3 ( +4 / -2 )

Oh, man, 2020 is break all kinds of records for heat exhaustion from locals and thousands of tourists and English exhaustion from the hospital staff. Can't wait for those Olympics!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

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