Survey of heat disorders during sports activities in Japanese college students

• Published in: JAPANESE JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 157 - 163
• Main Authors: Sakate, Seiji, Sawai, Mustumi, Minami, Kazuhiro, Yorimoto, Akira, Hoshi, Akio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Biometeorology 2013
• Subjects: classification of heat disorders; college students; heat disorders; questionnaire survey
• ISSN: 0389-1313; 1347-7617
• DOI: 10.11227/seikisho.49.157

This study aimed to identify the current status of heat disorders in college students in Japan, and utilize the results in education to prevent heat disorders. A questionnaire survey was performed involving 1,231 students aged between 18 to 24 years old (792 males, 439 females, 19.1±1.0 years old). We judged subjective symptoms of heat disorders experienced by the students during sports activities, and classified them into I to III severity levels. As the results, 5.6, 80.4, and 14.0% of the students were classified into Levels I, II, and III, respectively. A greater percentage of male students corresponded to Level III than female students. A smaller percentage of athletic students corresponded to Level III than students in other courses. More than 90% of the students had accurate knowledge of heat disorders. A smaller percentage of students who had accurate knowledge of heat disorders corresponded to Level III than those without such knowledge. The percentage of students who corresponded to Level III was higher in those who knew WBGT (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature) or the guidelines for the prevention of heat disorders based on Japan Society of Biometeorology and Japan Sports Association, than those who did not know them. A greater percentage of students who had experienced heat disorders corresponded to Level III than those who had not. However, 10% of students who responded that they had never experienced heat disorders corresponded to Level III. More students who had been transported to the hospital due to heat disorders had experienced Level III than those who had not, and they all corresponded to Level II or higher. However, 12.2% of students who responded that they had not been transported to the hospital due to heat disorders corresponded to Level III. The results revealed insufficient knowledge of heat disorders among college students, indicating the need to provide more effective education to prevent heat disorders.