As Japan grapples with extreme heatwave conditions, medical experts are taking drastic measures to address the rising number of heat-related fatalities. The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine has announced plans to introduce a new, fourth category to the existing three-level heatstroke index later this year. This move comes amid warnings that the current heatwave is placing a significant strain on medical services and posing a threat to public health comparable to that of a natural disaster.
The association claims that the death toll from heat exhaustion has skyrocketed from a few hundred per year two decades ago to around 1,500 in 2022. The sheer number of fatalities suggests that heatstroke now poses a danger as severe as a major natural disaster, prompting the association to urge people to avoid going outside unless absolutely necessary.
The current heatwave has already claimed the lives of six people in Tokyo, with temperatures soaring to as high as 40C in some areas. The city’s authorities have issued heat alerts, advising residents to stay indoors and avoid physical activity. Cooling shelters have been set up across the city to provide respite from the heat and humidity.
Residents like 60-year-old Hisako Ichiuji, who was taking a break at a shelter near Tokyo Tower, are speaking out about the dangers posed by the heat. “The temperature wasn’t like this in the past,” she said. “I think it’s important to keep ourselves hydrated, and take shelter in a facility like this.”
Japan HeatwaveThe heatwave has also had a devastating impact on the elderly, with those aged over 64 accounting for almost 60% of emergency hospital visits for heatstroke last week. The situation is particularly dire for those living in apartments without air conditioning, who are often forced to seek refuge in public buildings.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, Tokyo’s authorities are urging residents to take precautions and use ambulance services responsibly. “We are under pressure,” the Tokyo fire department warned in a message sent to residents in the city’s Minato ward. “Please take care of your health and use ambulances appropriately.”
For residents like 75-year-old Sumiko Yamamoto, the heat is becoming increasingly unbearable. “I find it difficult to survive without the AC on,” she said. “Using the advice given on TV, I try to stay hydrated. And because I’m old, I’m being careful not to collapse.”
As the heatwave shows no signs of abating, agencies are working together to provide emergency care to those affected. According to the Tokyo fire department, ambulance callouts rise significantly when the temperature is in the 25C-35C range and humidity is between 50% and 80%. With the new “most severe” heatstroke category set to be introduced, the Japanese government hopes to reduce the number of heat-related fatalities and provide better support to those affected by the extreme heat.