Environment Extreme heat takes heavy toll on aging population

[thomas]

Severe heat takes a heavy toll on children, older people and those with underlying conditions. In Japan, older people have proved particularly vulnerable.

What's worse is that people aged 64-81 still have to earn a living on construction sites.

"It's much hotter these days," said a 63-year-old worker, who has worked in the industry for 40 years. "I suffer from heat illness every year, though it's been mild enough." […] "Summer beats me the most," said an 81-year-old traffic guard at the site. He missed the morning meeting that day because he had been so exhausted from his work the day before. Over a third of the nation's construction workers are now over 55, a trend shared by the firm, and the share of older workers in the industry is growing.

An 81-year-old traffic guard at a construction site in Sumida (photo credit: LOUISE CLAIRE WAGNER)​

In Japan, extreme heat and an aging population are a deadly mix

Heat waves combined with high humidity are weighing particularly heavily on the nation’s 36 million people age 65 and over, who are at much greater risk of severe illness and death.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[musicisgood]

I also think it is affecting the fishing industry. From what I've seen the fans aren't doing much. The more modern tech fishing ports have a cool water mist over the work force, but its not that common.
For me, last summer was the first time I felt ill due to the heat. This year, the heat is very dry and has the news been saying " its a dangerous type of heat this summer", be careful.
What I don't understand is why the Japanese men no longer wear hats.