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16 dead, 8,670 treated for heatstroke July 23-29

28 Comments

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said Tuesday that 8,686 were taken to hospital due to heatstroke in the week of July 23-29. Of those, 16 died.

Temperatures have remained high across the nation for 10 days in a row as a high pressure system lingers over Japan. The mercury has topped 35 degrees in more than 110 locations across Japan each day, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Of the number of people taken to hospital, 3,717 were aged 65 or older, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.

By prefecture, Aichi had the most number of heatstroke victims at 668.

The Meteorological Agency said the heatwave is expected to continue at least until next Saturday.

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28 Comments
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3,717 were aged 65 or older,

About 5,000 then were under 65. Of the 5,000 under 65 I wonder how many were between 13~18 (junior high and high school age) doing some sports without water, shade, or intelligent coaches.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

What's going on??????? I don't remeber numbefrs being like this in previous summers? Mad dogs and Japanese out in the midday sun?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

borschtJul. 31, 2012 - 03:17PM JST

About 5,000 then were under 65. Of the 5,000 under 65 I wonder how many were between 13~18 (junior high and high school age) doing some sports without water, shade, or intelligent coaches.

Maybe 2k, not much more than that. Many schools are already on summer vacation, and major sports events are usually later on when temperatures cool.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

JT, can we get some more detailed information? Maybe breakdowns on indoor vs outdoor, and bit more on ages? People here would love that information. Keep up the good work.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Basroil: I am not sure if you are aware...but club activities continue through the summer break. All my students were at school today doing their clubs and a lot of them were out in the hot sun. When I left this afternoon, the baseball boys were still practicing (3:00 and 35 degrees)

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I'm sure there are a lot of kids and teenagers. School is out but I know a bunch of kids who are doing "bukatsu" and are out all day playing baseball or soccer. I ask my friends if they aren't worried and they all say, "Daijoubu desho!" It's only daijoubu until it's no longer daijoubu...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

What sort of a bunch of wombats considers soccer a summer sport? Seriously! That is utterly ridiculous! Yeah, the temp has been mid-30's and above for a while, but it is the same every year. It's called, 'summer' people! Let's go back 80 or 90 years before air-conditioners or even a bit further to before electricity. Were so many people effected by heatstroke? We could probably never find out, but I'm sure there were less. I am sorry, but there are only two reasons for anyone to be overcome by heatstroke, ignorance and carelessness.

It's actually quite a lovely summer's day here in Tokyo today. Temp around 33' and a relative humidity of around 40%. Just lovely!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

It's too hot in Japan... and PEOPLE (school kids) ARE STILL PLAYING SPORTS in the middle of the day... I have no idea what they're thinking sometimes.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

anyone think this may be setsuden related? its hot everywhere even indoor--subway..restaurant....hotel...surely this saving electricity things is taking a toll...

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Luckily for readers of my well thought out and hilarious comments, I was not one of these poor people.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

basroil

Many schools are already on summer vacation, and major sports events are usually later on when temperatures cool

Schools may be officially on vacation but there are still many many school related outdoor activities occurring and sporting events. I watched in amazement as there where groups of young school aged kids practicing and playing baseball in the mid day sun today. And unsurprisingly saw an ambulance heading into the baseball ground just after 2pm. Will these people never learn.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

JT, can we get some more detailed information? Maybe breakdowns on indoor vs outdoor, and bit more on ages?

*people taken to hospital July 23-29] according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency

[0-27days old] 1 (0.0%)

[28days-6 years old] 62 (0.7%)

[7-17 years old] 1,314 (15.1%)

[18-64 years old] 3,592 (41.4%)

[65-] 8,686 (42.8%)

.

*By prefecture

1: Aichi(668) 2:Tokyo(646) 3:Saitama(632) 4:Osaka(459) 5:Kanagawa(447) 6:Chiba(431) 7:Hyogo(389) 8:Fukuoka(384) 9:Ibaraki(277) 10:Kyoto(217)

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

3 ( +3 / -0 )

setsuden related?

Like people switching the neurones off to save energy ? YES !

4 ( +4 / -0 )

A lot of this could be prevented, but the old ganbaro spirit of Japan and lack of common sense prevail.

On a rainy day, events are cancelled. Over-reactions over rain; complacency over scorching temperatures.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

borscht about 100 junior school children were playing baseball in an open ground today, i was very concern i asked coaches about the heat but they said atsui kedo ma shoganai, they ignored the heat ,Thaks God the children were safe

1 ( +2 / -1 )

What's strange is I thought after all the news of deaths and hospitalization that things would change. The other day at 11:30 there was a soccer game going, and a high school coach putting his kids through their paces - 200m sprints. But the kids when they finished elected to sit in the blazing sun instead of walking 20 meters to the shade. So, the coach is crazy, but you'd think kids would prefer to sit in the shade if they had to go through that. Cats and dogs seem to naturally want to get cool. I was almost going to go up to the coach and say I'd like to give him a bakamono gold medal - but, decided against it. But if after all the news, they still don't want to avoid the middle of the day, or if thats the only time, at least take advantage of these wonderful shade-devices called...trees, than I think it's a lost cause.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

On the flip side, they really love checking water every hour in the swimming pools and making sure everyone gets a rest.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"anyone think this may be setsuden related?"

Nup. A few cases are just people being too old or frail. But most are just because people don't think.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

JHS - I love it !!! No grass, playing in the dust all day !!!!! So much fun !!!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'll be next.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

anyone think this may be setsuden related? its hot everywhere even indoor--subway..restaurant....hotel...surely this saving electricity things is taking a toll

Azabu, you're getting downvoted, but I agree with you and think that setsuden is almost as much a factor as . There's basically no respite from the heat now. When you're in a comfortable environment of around 20 degrees and then you step outside into the heat, there's a buffer of a few minutes before you start sweating. This means that you can walk to the train station, or from your station to your office, and not get overheated. You feel the blast of heat, sure, but then you're back in the cool of the train station or building and you're fine. You have a lot more energy, too, and your brain probably makes better judgments of what your body needs.

But when it's already too hot for comfort and you're sweating even indoors, going from 28-30 indoors to 32-35 outdoors your body is already "warmed up" (pardon the pun) to have problems. Before Cool Buz, summer was uncomfortable, but now it's a perpetual state of exhaustion that basically doesn't stop until September.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

We already said this on an earlier thread, but,

Why can't they have club activities somewhere in the 6am-11am or 3pm-9pm ranges?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

correction

*[65-] 3,717 (42.8%)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Was at the beach yesterday with my son for just two hours and now suffering with extreme sunburn! Won't be stepping outside on the beach again anytime soon this side of September!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

People try to do too much on a hot day. Stay in the shade. Drink alot of water and eat cold somen. Relax.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Chiba track and field (Ken Sou Taikai) was held on July 27-28. My 14 year old son was out in that heat from 10 - 2 on Saturday. He was only out there half as long as a few of his team mates and friends. I was there with 2 younger kids, with a cooler box full of: fresh fruit, water, jello cups, tuna sandwiches, beef jerky and 2liter bottles frozen into ice - that melted and used to drink/cool down bodies. With sunscreen and huge beach umbrella - we were still burned in the bleachers. I was told later that the track was 38 at noon. Its a no wonder most of the boys throwing shot put (usual average 10 meters) were tossing 6-7 meters. My son that throws over 11 meters only made 10 plus, as his best that day. There were at least 1000 other junior high students involved, plus their team mates, coaches, families and such there. We saw 2 ambulances pulling away, its a suprize that there wasnt more. (after our cooler box drinks were gone, between going to the car and getting home, we purchased: vending sports drinks, shakes from McD, flavored water from convieniant stores ... 3 total... All this in the 20km to get home, mostly for my 14 year old.) So yes, why are these high energy, fluid draining, outside events not held at a better temp. Season or month? I suppose Japanese tradition dictates this, but isnt their someone strong enough with common sence to say 'Hey, what going on?!' in leadership?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Was at the beach yesterday with my son for just two hours and now suffering with extreme sunburn! Won't be stepping outside on the beach again anytime soon this side of September!

I was at the beach with my son on the weekend for 5 hours and neither of us got sunburnt, even though we're fair-skinned. Our secret? Sunblock and a sunshade tent- you too can go to the beach before September and not get sunburnt with these simple things!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

thx thon taddeo for second me..for a while thought i was the only one who thought the effect of setsuden...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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