Key Facts
• On August 7, the government held a meeting on heatstroke prevention at 11:00 AM.
• Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized using air conditioning and staying hydrated with water and salt.
• Over 2,000 heatstroke deaths were recorded last year, nearing traffic accident fatalities (2,663).
• In Tokyo, over 80% of heatstroke deaths involved elderly individuals, most without air conditioning.
• Ishiba instructed ministries to install air conditioning in school gyms and utilize public spaces like libraries.
• The Ministry of Environment and the Children and Family Agency were tasked with implementing measures.
Summary
Prime Minister Ishiba addressed the alarming rise in heatstroke-related deaths during a government meeting on August 7. He urged citizens to use air conditioning and stay hydrated, highlighting that last year’s heatstroke fatalities exceeded 2,000, approaching traffic accident deaths. In Tokyo, elderly individuals accounted for over 80% of heatstroke deaths, with most lacking air conditioning. Ishiba directed relevant ministries to install air conditioning in school gyms and promote the use of public facilities like libraries as cooling centers. These measures aim to mitigate the growing health crisis.
