7,079 Heatstroke Sufferers Taken to Hospital Last Week

August 14, 2018

Tokyo- The number of people taken to hospital by ambulances in Japan due to heatstroke totaled 7,079 in the week ended on Sunday, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said in a preliminary report on Tuesday.

The weekly figure fell below 10,000 for the first time in about one month, but was up 1,823 from a year earlier.

Of the total, six died.

Since April 30, a total of 78,345 people have been taken to hospital for heatstroke treatment, far more than the 42,288 between May 1 and Aug. 12 last year.

By prefecture, Tokyo saw the largest figure for the latest reporting week, with 596 people, followed by Aichi, with 595, and Osaka, with 487.

People aged 65 and older accounted for 48.6 pct of the total.

The agency is calling on the public to drink water, get salt and take a break for self-care. Jiji Press