Background

   Global warming and heat island phenomena are major threat to people in the community, and in fact everywhere. We experience cases of heat stroke in schools, at workplaces and even in the households, especially for the elderlies. Comprehensive prevention measures to protect people’s health and safety is thus warranted.

Objectives

   To provide prevention measures for heat stroke to our students. Through mutual collaboration, the prevention shall be extended to the local community.

Outline

   Since 2006, we have developed an automatic wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) data acquisition device of our own, and since 2008 real time data have been provided online. Since 2014, the service became available for Shikata campus in addition to Tsushima campus. Everybody can access the real time WBGT at anytime. We have noticed increased needs of heat stroke prevention measures among students enjoying sports. “Okayama University Heat Stroke Prevention Manual” (currently version 6) and “Heat Stroke Prevention Workbook for Instructors” were published. “Heat Stroke Prevention Course” has been provided as school safety instructions. Ice machine and other equipment have been also provided. In collaboration with local board of education and/or health care center, environmental measurement and assessment as well as prevention of  “indoor heat stroke” of the elderlies have been conducted. The Third Heat Stroke Symposium was held on our campus in May, 2019.

Expected outcomes　

   In addition to the direct effects such as heat stroke prevention of our students, we expect its extension to our local society, including fostering the next generation mindful of health and safety. Our WBGT data acquisition/providing system is a versatile system, and it is our hope that  the system be utilized in our community.

URL

https://www.iess.ccsv.okayama-u.ac.jp/koudai-shien/sports/