Risk of heatstroke determined using data on accidents that occurred during club activities at secondary/high schools: relationship between outdoor climate and accidents at schools (Part 4)

Abstract

Abstract The frequencies and characteristics of heatstroke occurring in secondary/high schools were investigated using data from the National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health, and an analysis was performed for a 10‐year period (2005‐2014). Nine representative cities in Japan were investigated. The frequencies of heatstroke during the athletic club activities were appreciably high in the schoolyard and gymnasium. Heatstroke most commonly occurred in the schoolyard during athletic club activities, physical education, and field day at a wet‐bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of 31°C and in the gymnasium during athletic club activities at a WBGT >31°C. The determined accident ratio (number of accidents during each club activity divided by the club's population) in the gymnasium during the female badminton club activities was the highest. Although badminton is played in a gymnasium, these WBGT results show that the risk level during badminton under hot and humid conditions is equal to that of baseball or rugby played in the schoolyard.

Keywords

• accidents in schools
• club activity
• heatstroke
• high school
• secondary school