Emergency transport of heat stroke patients nationwide (2020)

　In heat stroke, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications summarizes the emergency transport status of heat stroke patients from May to September every year. In fiscal 2020, due to the effects of the COVID-19 infection, May was not included in the survey period, but the survey period was short from Monday, June 1. The graph below shows the number of weekly transporters in the emergency transport status of heat stroke patients nationwide since 2015. In fiscal 2020, it is indicated by red lines. Every year, after the rainy season, the number of emergency transporters of heat stroke patients increases rapidly. Looking at the relationship between the end of the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region and the peak week of the number of emergency transporters to heat stroke nationwide, the 28th and 31st week in 2015, the 30th and 31st week in 2016, and the 27th and 28th week in 2017, and the 26th and 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 39th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 29th week in 20th week in 2 As in 2016, 2017, and 2019, the week following the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region is often the peak week of the number of emergency transports to heat stroke patients nationwide.
　The rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region is usually around June 8, but the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region in 2020 was around June 11, and during the 24th week immediately after the rainy season (June 8-14) and the 25th week (June 15-21), the maximum number of emergency transporters of heat stroke patients across the country for each week was 20. The maximum value may be related to the high humidity just after the rainy season, and there are more opportunities to wear masks to combat corona than usual.
The rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region is usually around July 21, but the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region in 2020 is slower than usual around August 1, and in 2020, the 29th week immediately before the end of the rainy season (July 13-19) to the minimum 31st week (heat stroke 1st week from July 27 to August 2). During the 32nd week (August 3-9), the week following the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region, the number of emergency transports to heat stroke patients across the country surged to 6,787. From the 33rd week (August 10 to 16) to the 36th week (August 31 to September 6), all weeks were the maximum for each week after 2015. The relationship between the end of the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region and the peak week of the number of emergency transports for heat stroke patients nationwide was in the 31st and 33rd weeks in 2020. In 2020, the week following the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region was the peak week of the number of emergency transports to heat stroke patients nationwide.
According to a summary by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (reference: Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Emergency Transport Situation by heat stroke in 2020," October 27, 2020), heat stroke accounted for the highest percentage of elderly people aged 65 and over heat stroke transport personnel in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were in their homes ahead of going out, and many elderly people were at home. From May to September, when there are many heat stroke, measures against heat stroke are important in addition to measures against COVID-19.
　From June to September in Japan in 2020 (Reiwa 2), the number of emergency transport personnel for heat stroke patients was 64,869 (including 112 deaths), and in the six years from 2015 to 2020, it was 2018 (92710), followed by 2019 (666869). By month, August was the most common with 43,060 people (including 81 deaths), and the most common in August of the six years from 2015-2020. It was the largest in June, with 6,336 people (including 8 deaths) and the largest in June of 2015-2020. In July, the number was as low as 8,388 (including 18 deaths), and the lowest in July of the six-year period from 2015-2020. If the rainy season in 2020 (Ryowa 2) ends in early August, July 2020 (Ryowa 2) does not include a sudden increase immediately after the rainy season. In 2020 (Ryowa 2), the rainy season was slower than usual, and the slower, the summer with heat stroke was shorter. As the end of the rainy season in 2021 (Riwa 3) is earlier than 2020 (Riwa 2), the number of emergency transport personnel for heat stroke patients in 2021 (Riwa 3) may increase compared to 2020 (Riwa 2). There is a possibility, and caution is required in 2021 (Riwa 3).

Graph of the number of emergency transport personnel weekly for patients with emergency heat stroke from 2015 to 2020

　The graph above is created using the figures published in the heat stroke Information on the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “List of Past Data (From 2008) (external site)”. The number of emergency transport personnel and the number of fatalities for heat stroke patients in the week of 2020 (Reiwa 2) in the graph is the monthly report (confirmed value) from June to September, and the weekly report (preliminary value) in October. We use numerical value of.
　For more information about heat stroke, please refer to the Yokohama City Inst. of Health web page “Prevent heat stroke (heat stroke, sunstroke)”.

• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency "heat stroke Information (External Site)" / "List of Past Data (From 2008) (External Site)"
• heat stroke Information, Yokohama City Inst. of Health
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health “National Emergency Transport Situation for Heat Stroke Patients (2018)”
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, “National Emergency Transport Situation for Heat Stroke Patients (2019)”
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, “National Emergency Transport Situation for Heat Stroke Patients (2021)”

First published on June 2, 2021