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7,943 taken to hospital to be treated for heatstroke from Aug 2-8

58 Comments

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Wednesday that 7,943 people were taken to hospital to be treated for heatstroke symptoms between Aug 2 and Aug 8.

The number was nearly 2,000 more than the previous week, the agency said. Of the number, 14 died, the agency said. The agency said that 4,373 cases were people aged 63 and over.

So far this year, the number of people treated for heatstroke at hospitals has surpassed 30,000, which is 10,000 more than the same time last year, the agency said.

Health ministry officials continue to urge people, especially the elderly, to drink plenty of water and use the air conditioner when they sleep at night. They are also warning people to lift their face masks when they are outside, if no one is nearby.

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58 Comments
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Stop overdressing like Darth Vader. Stop drinking Strong Zero and Chuhai. Stop playing sports in the middle of the day when it's hottest. Common sense really.

26 ( +31 / -5 )

yeah, there is absolutely no reason to wear a mask when outside… especially there is no one around.

28 ( +39 / -11 )

Yes, Plenty of water the rest of the world drinks it, Japanese don't !!

I notice Japanese have been brainwashed and told by the soda and soft drink companies that water is dirty, contaminated, and so on and yet they are using the very same water to make their beverages.

-8 ( +11 / -19 )

No wonder i saw two elderly ladies walking in the middle of the day coming back from shopping dressed in long tracksuit pants and jacket and white gardening gloves saying"atsui desu ne" meanwhile i was looking at them with amusement in my shorts tshirt sunny's cap and flip flops

27 ( +29 / -2 )

@ShotenGuy Stop overdressing like Darth Vader. Stop drinking Strong Zero and Chuhai. Stop playing sports in the middle of the day when it's hottest. Common sense really.

Well 55% of those heat stroke patients were elderly that were likely not hydrating properly. I'd bet that there was few very fit athletes playing sports in the middle of the day. The fittest athletes that train in the heat are conditioned much better to function in the heat.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

@Mark, what kind of nonsense are you talking about? Water is consume a lot here. Why you think we drink tea and cook our rice with water?? Not to mention water is seen as sacred here and as a means of purification. Even shinto shrines has countless of area's where people can just drink fresh water.

I have no idea how you even come up with such a theory. Are you sure you ain't talking about the US where the tap water is impossible to drink and smell like rotten egg?

-3 ( +15 / -18 )

That’s what a useless stupid mask will do to you, worst than the disease you are so scared of. That’s why we never wear one.

-19 ( +9 / -28 )

I was wondering when we would start getting the annual reports of heatstroke.

Apparently we just had to wait until the Runny Jumpy Show left town before we get a reminder that the Tokyo summer is brutal.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

@Hiro: perfect response. Water here is good. So is the strong zero.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

It's really easy to avoid, just keep drinking water and don't wear masks. Works for me.

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

7,943 people were taken to hospital...2,000 more than the previous week...

So far this year, the number of people treated for heatstroke at hospitals has surpassed 30,000...10,000 more than the same time last year

Just imagine what this number would've been if the olympics had been held in normal times and with full stadiums.

Just remember, this is what the disingenuous people in power wanted the official word to be:

“With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform their best” - JOC, Official Olympic proposal.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Elderly Japanese always succumb to heat stroke. Because all they drink is tea, which is a diuretic and dehydrates the body And they don't use air conditioning. But wearing a mask while walking outdoors is just stupid.

14 ( +19 / -5 )

And the other 8,000 were refused admittance to hospital, I bet.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Wow, 7,943!

Let's lock everything down so we can protect the vulnerable from the danger!

0 ( +15 / -15 )

And the other 8,000 were refused admittance to hospital, I bet.

No, you have it all wrong. There are tens of thousands of heatstroke cases that the government is covering up!

-7 ( +9 / -16 )

I've noticed many Japanese don't drink enough water. You should be drinking around 2 to 3 liters a day, and especially in the summer here. Sports clubs shouldn't have 4+ hour practices in mid-day either. It's a recipe for disaster.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

Wow, 7,943!

Let's lock everything down so we can protect the vulnerable from the danger!

@Steve - You're nearly right.

A lockdown isn't necessary because heatstroke cases won't increase from people-to-people transfer.

Educating people to stay out of the sun in the middle of the day, to stay hydrated, to wear a sunhat, to dress appropriately, to not do manual labor or unnecessary jobs such as weeding a parking lot during the midday heat etc.

You'd agree that it's a good idea to protect people from getting heatstroke, right?

6 ( +10 / -4 )

The hottest weather in my town this year was in July, but yeah, the hot days we get every year are getting hotter. It was also much sunnier than normal in July. I only found out recently, but heatstroke and sunstroke are different names for essentially the same thing.

Because all they drink is tea, which is a diuretic and dehydrates the body 

Tea is a diuretic but it does not "dehydrate the body". That is a myth. Ice coffee doesn't either.

https://time.com/5192272/coffee-tea-dehydrating/

5 ( +5 / -0 )

CrashTestDummyToday  07:59 am JST

@ShotenGuy Stop overdressing like Darth Vader. Stop drinking Strong Zero and Chuhai. Stop playing sports in the middle of the day when it's hottest. Common sense really.

Well 55% of those heat stroke patients were elderly that were likely not hydrating properly. I'd bet that there was few very fit athletes playing sports in the middle of the day. The fittest athletes that train in the heat are conditioned much better to function in the heat.

Yes, Crash. I'm one of them. I am 60 and can do a 10k run during the day. (Average 100+KM a month) How? I listen to my body and know where all the juice machines are. Jogging is my drug. Love the challenge. BUT PEOPLE, PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR BODY and have a back up. And I'm not an athlete, just a private business owner.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

SOE?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Japanese summers are hot. I spend a lot of time outdoors and when I feel overheated I just drink pocari sweat or Aquarius. I hate the stuff and wish Japan had Gatorade but it does the trick.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Watch out, it can sneak up on you!

I was out for a bike ride (40 minutes or so) the other day when it was cloudy and only 60% humidity. Bike ride was fine, not even sweating. Parked and went on a 20 minute leisurely walk with an umbrella. Got back to my bike and started to feel nauseous. Thought it was my lunch. Then I started feeling really clammy and fought like hell not to pass out. I was hunched over my parked bike by myself when I remembered I had freezer packs in case I found any food on my travels.

I fumbled through my bike basket like a crazy person to get them and used two on my neck and head.

I crouched down in case I did pass out so I’d be lower to the ground.

It was incredibly scary. I am not elderly and had (what I thought to be) enough water during breakfast and lunch.

According to the internet, I had heat exhaustion, which comes before heatstroke.

I was humbled, for sure. Take care everyone.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Suddenly thousands of hospital beds available for heatstroke patients? Wow, that’s been fast. Keep a few, you never know…

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Many Japanese (and other Asians) still cling to the myth that drinking cold water is bad.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

HBJToday  

7,943 people were taken to hospital...2,000 more than the previous week...

So far this year, the number of people treated for heatstroke at hospitals has surpassed 30,000...10,000 more than the same time last year

Just imagine what this number would've been if the olympics had been held in normal times and with full stadiums.

Just remember, this is what the disingenuous people in power wanted the official word to be:

“With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform their best” - JOC, Official Olympic proposal.

True to form, I knew that somebody would find a way of linking this weather to the Olympics. Move on, people.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Wow they take thousands and thousands of heatstroke victims, but will not lift a hand for corona patients! They only want no risk easy money and don't really care about helping dying people!

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14415617

8 ( +10 / -2 )

It's OK to drink lots of beer in the middle of the day in the peak of summer, as long as you are not old or fat! Just lose some weight or be younger, and you're fine! People who are young and thin are immortal!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Tap water in Tokyo is potable and plenty. Vending machines are also everywhere. Just use your common sense. Wear mask only when you are with someone or in crowded public places/transportation. Take mask off when you walk or do exercises out in the open when there are few or no people around. I have been running at least 10km a day everyday, drinking plenty of fluid of course and keeping our AC on 24/7 since mid July. Lots of reported heatstrokes might be because of unfortunate circumstances but, maybe, lots of those can be preventable .

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Oh look, summer is really hot in Japan.

This is mind blowing information.

What do we do?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Hiro

Are you sure you ain't talking about the US where the tap water is impossible to drink and smell like rotten egg?

What is the point of replying to a misconceiving post with another one ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_water_quality_in_the_United_States

~~~~====

Regarding water drinking in Japan, I think restaurants widely should start providing carafe of water instead of just a glass when you ask for it. It make it easier to kept hydrated when drinking alcohol and allow people to wash taste bud in order to better appreciate the taste of the food &co.

I would suggest to also drink milk. I think in that matter perhaps adult Japanese are kind of lacking : https://www.readersdigest.ca/food/healthy-food/best-hydration-drink/
1 ( +2 / -1 )

When I exercise with jogging or walking at the beach area I take my shirt off and am never frowned upon, but If I take my shirt off 7-12 kilometers away from the beach I get bad looks, snarls, arrogant remarks etc. Why?

Is there an imaginary perimeter line for shirt, no shirt?

Drink water. It is excellent in this country.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It is amazing all of a sudden we are hearing about rising covid, low hospital beds, large numbers of heatstroke cases, etc.. all this news suddenly becoming known right after a certain event ended on August 8.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Stop overdressing like Darth Vader.

This!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

I expect much of the rise is because of mask wearing and older peole reducing the time they hang around supermarkets et al to cool down.

It is not easy for older people to regulate their temperature. An old person can feel cold even when it is plus 30. My father in law once complained about feeling faint. I went to his house to discover it was 35 in the room and he was dressed for winter. Once he removed several layers of clothing and I switched off his multiple heaters he felt a lot better.

As for drinking water I had a job unloading lorries which was 5 hours plus moving about. I limited my drinking to 500ml an hour (water with sachet of salts) and half way through a yogurt drink. It was the advice given to marathon runners and worked well. Those drinks that cool you down instantly also remove all the salts in you body and that is good way of making yourself ill.

I also helped remove tiles from roofs during one summer season. We worked 1 hour on, 1 hour off in the shade during the hottest days.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

AntiquesavingToday  12:18 pm JST

It is amazing all of a sudden we are hearing about rising covid, low hospital beds, large numbers of heatstroke cases, etc.. all this news suddenly becoming known right after a certain event ended on August 8

Yes it was all planned. Even I'm in on it.

Watch out for vans with blacked out windows.....

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Gaijinland:

Japan DOES have Gatorade - liquid or powdered.

I've seen it on Amazon Japan.

So you can avoid Pocari Sweat and Aquarius if you wish.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Reckless - Tokyo humidity slightly higher than Miami in July. In August they are about the same, but, yeah - AC everywhere.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Japanese woman majority young or old are afraid of the sun and afraid of darkening of there white skin so they cover up like it’s middle of a freezing winter and shield themselves from the sun. Reason they overheat. How the culturally got brain washed not sure

4 ( +4 / -0 )

How come heatstroke victims get to enjoy the ride and be hospitalized but severe covid victims are told to stay home?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Over 7000 cases of heatstroke! Stay indoors! Wear a mask! Don't stand so close to loved ones! The sun is a virus! Oh, wait...wrong plandemic!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

OS1 is way more effective than Gatorade, Aquarius, or even Pocari Sweat.

If it tastes like crap your body doesn’t need it so much. If it tastes good your body needs it.

It’s sold in your local drugstore. It’s a bit more expensive than the aforementioned drinks but well worth the price.

It’s also the ultimate hangover remover. I’m surprised nobody has mentioned it on here yet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Stop overdressing like Darth Vader!

It amazes me that in 36+ degree heat, there are Chinese students and workers here who are wearing duffle coats, with the hoods string-tied tight around their faces and wearing GLOVES, while riding their bicycles! What's up with that!!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Stay indoors!

and when indoors, use the air conditioner in the hottest part of the day.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

About 1,100 people suffered from heatstroke. I feel that I have been swamped with corona-related new recently, so I have been less conscious of such risk. Also, the news tells me the number of people infected with the virus every day in these days such as two thousand, three thousand or four thousand. Therefore 1,100 people in average did not struck me at the first sight, come to think of it however, such number seems to be serious.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Those numbers are WAY TOO HIGH!!

WE NEED LOCKDOWNS NOW!!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

It's karma for human beings after decades of global warming negationism.

I won't cry if it starts with the main contributors such as USA, Japan, China ...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is seriously so difficult to get heatstroke when you have a common sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So all those Ambulances weren't rushing COVID victims after-all, but merely over heated individuals who couldn't afford aircon...

Perhaps we need shared Aircon environments for those who are in need ?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@mmwkdw

Perhaps we need shared Aircon environments for those who are in need ?

Not just for those in need. Aircon contribute to climate crisis so we should aim at reducing the need of them to begin with : better town, better building, ... and the number used when no choice left.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Oxycodin, I think you hit the nail directly on the head. Japanese women are, for the most part, afraid of exposing their skin to the sun. It's a cultural thing. And to say they think it keeps their skin white is just a tiny bit racist. But I have to admit I can't understand it. Just like I can't understand young mothers handing their cell phones to their three-year-old so the kid can take a photo of their mom wearing a mask. Such a pathetic childhood memory - 'here's my mom...I think'.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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