It seems like every summer is hotter and longer than the last. I was interested in the special heat stroke alert system that Japan's Environment Ministry launched this year, as part of efforts to address the ever increasing number of deaths due to summer heat.
Each prefecture will have their own special alert, based on the heat stress index calculated from temperature and humidity at observation points within the prefecture. If widespread and dangerous heat is forecast, the Ministry will make an announcement around 2 pm the day before to call for cancelling or postponing sports and other events. Municipalities will open designated facilities such as libraries and community centers to residents as cooling shelters.
This new system was created as annual deaths from heat stroke have exceeded 1000 in recent years in Japan. Average temperatures in the summer of 2023 were the highest since the Japan Meterological Agency becan recording data in 1898.
The heat stroke alert system will be in effect through October 23 of this year.
There is one problem - many people who KNOW there is a risk of heat stroke still have no way of escaping from the heat. Especially farmers, as they can't cancel working, nor are they anywhere near a cooling shelter. Hopefully, the prefectures will promote some form of assistant teams so farmers don't work alone in their fields. Sending out mobile cooling shelters, eg minibuses, where farmers can take short breaks, get water and a simple health check etc would also be important.
I think this is a good warning system, but Queenie said, the challenge going forward is to be more specific about what to do after an alarm and how to evacuate people... I agree. What the country needs to do, what local governments need to do, and even individuals need to find ways to survive the intense heat.
It sounds like a good concept over all. Queenie pointed out some flaws, but I hope that at least older people and kids, who are probably most vulnerable to the heat, will be a little safer this year.
There is one problem - many people who KNOW there is a risk of heat stroke still have no way of escaping from the heat. Especially farmers, as they can't cancel working, nor are they anywhere near a cooling shelter. Hopefully, the prefectures will promote some form of assistant teams so farmers don't work alone in their fields. Sending out mobile cooling shelters, eg minibuses, where farmers can take short breaks, get water and a simple health check etc would also be important.
ReplyDeleteGood idea, we had an incident here where a sports day was going to go ahead despite the day being extremely hot.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds very clever but Queeniepatch made a good point.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good warning system, but Queenie said, the challenge going forward is to be more specific about what to do after an alarm and how to evacuate people... I agree.
ReplyDeleteWhat the country needs to do, what local governments need to do, and even individuals need to find ways to survive the intense heat.
It sounds like a good concept over all. Queenie pointed out some flaws, but I hope that at least older people and kids, who are probably most vulnerable to the heat, will be a little safer this year.
ReplyDelete