Emergency transport status of heat stroke patients nationwide (2020)

　Heat stroke often occurs in hot summers, and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications compiles the emergency transport status of heat stroke patients from May to September throughout Japan. In fiscal 2020, the survey period was short from Monday, June 1, to reduce the burden on fire departments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the survey period was short from Monday, June 1. The graph below shows the number of weekly transports in the emergency transport situation of heat stroke patients nationwide since 2015. Figures for fiscal 2020 are indicated by red lines. Usually, after the rainy season, the number of emergency transporters for heat stroke patients increases rapidly. Looking at the relationship between the week after the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region and the week of the peak number of emergency transporters in Japan, the 28th and 31st weeks in 2016, 2017 was the 27th and 28th weeks, 2017 was the 26th and 29th weeks, and 2019 was the 30th and 31st weeks in 2019. As in 2016, 2017, and 2019, 2019, the week following the week after the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region is often the peak week of the number of emergency transporters for 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 is around June 11, and the 24th week immediately after the rainy season (June 8-14) and the 25th week (June 15-21), the number of emergency transporters for heat stroke patients nationwide was the highest in each week after 2015. The maximum value may be related to the fact that the humidity is high immediately after the rainy season, and there are more opportunities to wear masks for corona compared to the usual year.
The rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region is usually around July 21, but the end of the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region in 2020 is unusually slower around August 1, and in 2020, the 29th week immediately before the rainy season (July 13-19) to the 31st week (July 27 to August 2), the number of emergency transport patients nationwide was the lowest for each week after 2015. During the 32nd week (August 3-9), the week following the week after the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region, the number of emergency transporters for heat stroke patients nationwide increased rapidly to 6787. From the 33rd week (August 10-16) to the 36th week (August 31-September 6), all of the week was the maximum value for each week after 2015. In 2020, the relationship between the week after the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region and the peak week of the number of emergency transporters for heat stroke patients nationwide was between the 31st and 33rd week in 2020. In 2020, the week following the week of the rainy season in the Kanto Koshin region was the peak week of the number of emergency transporters for heat stroke patients nationwide.
According to the summary of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (reference: Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, "Reference of Emergency Transport due to Heat Stroke in 2020" October 27, 2020), the ratio of elderly people aged 65 and over in the number of emergency transport personnel due to heat stroke was the highest at 57.9%, and the location of heat stroke occurred at 43.3%. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many people who refrained from going out and were in their homes, and many elderly people were at home. From May to September, when heat stroke is high, heat stroke measures are also important in addition to corona measures.
　The number of emergency transport patients with heat stroke patients in Japan from June to September in 2020 was 64869 (including 112 deaths), and in the six years from 2015 to 2020, It was the second largest after 2018 (92710 people) and 2019 (66869). By month, August was the highest at 43060 (including 81 deaths), and the highest in August of the six years from 2015 to 2020. June was 6,336 (including 8 dead), the highest in June of 2015-2020. In July, there were only 8388 (including 18 deaths), and the lowest in July of the six years from 2015 to 2020. If the end of the rainy season in 2020 is at the beginning of August, July 2020 will not include the rapid increase immediately after the rainy season. In 2020, the end of the rainy season was slower than usual, and the summer with a lot of heat stroke was shortened as late. As the end of the rainy season in 2021 (3) is earlier than in 2020 (2), the number of emergency transport personnel for heat stroke patients in 2021 may increase compared to 2020, so care must be taken in 2021.

Graph of the number of emergency transport personnel for national emergency heat stroke patient week from 2015 to 2020

　In addition, we make the above graph using numerical value of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency homepage "heatstroke patient emergency transport situation" (outside site) announcement. In the graph, the number of emergency transport personnel and the number of deaths in the week of 2020 (2) in the graph, the monthly report (confirmed value) from June to September, and weekly report (preliminary value) figures are used.
　For more information about heat stroke, please refer to our Yokohama City Inst. of Health web page "Let's prevent heat stroke (heatstroke, sunstroke)"

• Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Fire and Disaster Management AgencyHeat stroke patient emergency transport situation (outside site)」
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, Inc.Heat stroke information」
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, Inc.Emergency transport status of heat stroke patients (2018)
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, Inc.Emergency transport status of heat stroke patients in Japan (2019)"
• Yokohama City Inst. of Health, Inc.Emergency transport status of heat stroke patients nationwide (2021)）」

Published on June 2, 2021