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Japan launches new alert system as heat stroke deaths rise

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open designated facilities such as libraries and community centers to residents as "cooling shelters."

Nice that facilities are being set up as cooling shelters, but too bad many will have to leave their residences to get cool. It's never too late, but if there were better construction measures it would be easier to keep buildings cool, and if government had offered people assistance with retrofitting buildings they would not have to spend money on establishing these facilities. Long, long passed time to move out of the fossil era, realize times are different , and that the climate continues to change, and do what's possible to mitigate against extreme weather events..

15 ( +19 / -4 )

@PTownsend but if there were better construction measures it would be easier to keep buildings cool

Yes exactly. We designed and built our own house to be as energy efficient as possible - with no need to install AC

We had to import the insulation etc because effective options were still not available here.

15 ( +20 / -5 )

Good initiative. I was surprised so many died of heat. Cooling shelters will hopefully surely help those in need. All the best.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

A good step that hopefully will prevent a lot of deaths, it is already too late to prevent a lot of the negative consequences of climate change, but measures like this can help making people realize how dire the situation may become if much greater efforts are not done.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

virusrexToday  07:56 am JST

A good step that hopefully will prevent a lot of deaths,

No, waste of money and time. More deaths due to the rapidly aging population. Old people die is a fact of life that people seem to have forgotten. A few more months at what cost?

-7 ( +12 / -19 )

Last summer was insanely hot. I am not looking forward to this summer.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Last summer was insanely hot.

Bring it on!! Beach time, baby!!

-11 ( +9 / -20 )

I also notice that many here don't drink enough water and drink caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea throughout their days. There needs to be more awareness to drinking water.

17 ( +21 / -4 )

There used to be free drinking water fountains at stations, parks and other places. Nearly all have disappeared, most hae been replaced by vending machines. Many people will say that people can still get water, they can buy it for only ¥120, but for old people with no job ¥120 many times a day adds up quickly and maybe they can't afford the air-conditioning for a poorly insulated house.

21 ( +23 / -2 )

Bring back those glorious water fountains.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

This is a good measure to protect the lives on the rapidly aging population who are very susceptible to heat stroke. Sorry, virus, the increase in the number of heat stroke patients in Japan is age related not "climate change."

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

I also notice that many here don't drink enough water and drink caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea throughout their days. There needs to be more awareness to drinking water.

Yes, that and too many people are avoiding salt, when they shouldn't.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

I think they could also make a campaign on imparting people common sense. Like, don't put up a Darth Vader costume during sports day (jersey pants, jersey sweat shirt and towel around your neck), drinking water, not going on a run in mid day, to stop doing whatever activity if you're feeling too hot, and signs of heat illnesses.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

May be the government should start teaching people how to dress cool and stay indoors during hot summer days.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Finally summer is here hope it will be hot hot hot and yes the gov should teach them how to dress up for summer lol and not to wear masks haha

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Probably a good initiative. A large part of people who die from heatstrokes are older people and kids, and if older people in poorly built houses have somewhere to go and if kids sporting events are cancelled that can probably help. And this summer is supposed to be an especially hot one.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

No, waste of money and time

Based on what? lack of empathy and ageism? fortunately even the slow advance of the Japanese society have left those kind of immoral reasonings in the past. People have a right to live even if they are old,

Yes, that and too many people are avoiding salt, when they shouldn't.

Based on what evidence? dehydration and heat shock are commonly reported during hot days, Hyponatremia on the other hand is much more rare, that would mean people are not in special risk for avoiding salt.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Where's the usual mascot that goes with public service announcements like this? People can't think for themselves so need a mascot to dumb it down for them. An adult should know to drink more water, wear sunscreen, light clothes and avoid the hottest parts of the day you'd think right.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Bring it on!! Beach time, baby!!

Don't forget the sunscreen

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

If the cities can make more larger parks, trees to offer shade and cool the air, instead of more aircon, which ironically heat up the air outside even more, it would help…… omg what am I saying! No we must keep pouring more concrete and heat up the cities even more. And they cut down more trees, concrete more river banks. (Sarcasm). We need to use everything we know because sadly like last year a few kids/ elderly will die because of the heat. We gotta do much more than just aircon our way out of this concrete jungle.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Do Japanese ever get tired of being told what to do? If it’s too hot just say no.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

We had to import the insulation etc because effective options were still not available here.

This is the way to do it. I have never met a Japanese builder who properly understands insulation and how it works. Even if they were to, you cannot get the good stuff in Japan.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Community centers can serve as cooling centers for elderly individuals to spend time.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Urbanization (reduction of green spaces, shade and yes water spots like fountains), aging of population, loss of common sense (stay inside during highest temperature of the day, wear light and light colors clothes, drink often, etc.) are the culprits for heat strokes, so very little to do with climate change.

Indeed summer comfort of residential buildings has been totally forgotten. Reduced building thermal inertia, sun building protections (not inside venetians blinds only but structural awnings, external rolling shutters, wall cladding, solar controlled glass windows), green plants/trees use for shade, reflective building exterior envelope (even mostly dark surface so with very high emissivity !) are all missing for most standard residential buildings in Japan.

You just have instead unlimited numbers of air-conditioning system with ugly outside external units releasing all together more heat than what is going through inside the building (yes that is thermodynamism law !)

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I see , each summer, old farmers, male and female, working outside in the midday sun.

It''s that Japanese attitude....work till you drop

Last year on a particularly mongrel hot day, I bought a traffic controller a large Pocari Sweat....boy was he happy.

Some days its too hot to drive in an airconditioned car as the sun seems to come through the roof.

I take ice baths all year, even in winter ,but I'll be upping the ice content this summer.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I drink a liter or two every day of Tansan. I avoid any drinks with sugar.

"Wilkinson Tansan is Japan's first brand of bottled sparkling mineral water. The company was created back in 1905 by John Clifford Wilkinson–yes, an Englishman–who stumbled upon a spring of aerated water while hunting down near Kobe."

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Maybe if the government had an initiative where they promoted, installed free solar panels and insulation ( against the sun's rays) this would save the power company from generating more power, thus saving home owners higher fuel bills, and making life more comfortable for all people

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Another step would be to discourage suits for both men and women during these months. I can't tell you how many people I see sweating it out wearing or carrying their jackets.

Let them wear a short sleeve shirt that doesn't need to be tucked in like in Okinawa, Philippines, and Indonesia. Plus, bail the masks.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

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