One in four Japanese students between the fourth grade of elementary school and the third year of junior high school has experienced restrictions or bans on using cooling products or consuming beverages under school rules, a survey by a major cram school operator has found.
The online survey also found that 40.5% of children reported experiencing heatstroke-like symptoms. With the Japan Meteorological Agency forecasting higher-than-average temperatures from June to August this year, allowing flexibility in school rules to reflect actual heat conditions has become an important issue.
The survey was conducted from May 13 to 18. It targeted 1,100 parents across Japan with children ranging from fourth graders to third-year junior high school students.
Of the respondents, 46.2% said their children had trouble communicating concerns about the heat or feeling unwell, highlighting the importance of adults recognizing changes in children’s physical condition at an early stage.
Meanwhile, 40.5% of parents said they were either “not very familiar” or “not familiar” with the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), an index that measures heat stress by accounting for temperature, humidity and other factors.
When asked what preventive measures their children took against heatstroke while commuting to school, with multiple answers allowed, 68.9% selected “bringing a water bottle or drink,” 58.0% “frequent hydration,” 50.3% “wearing a hat” and 25.3% “using a neck cooler.”
On the other hand, 27.1% of respondents said their children had been subjected to school rules that restrict or prohibit heatstroke countermeasures such as parasols, cooling products and hydration. At the same time, 78.6% said they believe heatstroke prevention measures at schools should be legally mandated.
The survey also found that 39.2% of households said they limited air conditioner use because of electricity costs. In addition, 68.2% of parents reported that their children’s concentration or study efficiency declined due to the heat while studying at home, suggesting that many families struggle to balance household budgets with heatstroke prevention.
An official in charge of the survey commented, “The findings once again reveal that extreme heat is having a serious impact on children’s physical and mental health as well as their learning environment. In particular, the fact that many children are unable to properly communicate heat-related discomfort is a concern that cannot be overlooked.”
