TOKYO -- With many people remaining in evacuation centers following the Jan. 1 Noto Peninsula earthquake, experts are warning residents to be particularly wary of hypothermia, blood clots and infectious diseases as frigid temperatures hit the region.
The Mainichi Shimbun has compiled a list of simple preventive measures that experts say can be taken even in situations where relief supplies are scarce.
Hypothermia: Don't sleep directly on the floor
Masahiro Nemoto, a professor of cold-weather disaster prevention at the Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing, says, "The shock of having one's home damaged and the anxiety and stress of not being able to return are very serious. In order to prevent earthquake-related illnesses, it is important to create good sleeping spaces in evacuation centers so that victims can rest their minds and bodies as much as possible."
In winter, sleeping directly on the floor should be avoided, as the cold air from the floor will prevent people from getting a good night's rest. Cold temperatures also heighten the risk of hypothermia, where the deep body temperature falls below 35 degrees Celsius. Elderly people and infants with low basal metabolic rates are especially prone to losing body heat. If a person does not stop shivering or if they are slow to respond to calls, it is a sign of hypothermia. As the condition worsens, the patient may fall unconscious or experience a weakened heartbeat and breathing.
Nemoto advises, "Make the most of what you have, such as cots, benches and mattresses, and rest as far off the floor as possible."
Further measures said to be effective in maintaining body temperature include layering dry clothes, stuffing newspaper inside jackets, and drinking warm drinks.
Economy-class syndrome: Exercise and water
During evacuation, people may lack a proper supply of food and water, and they are in the same position in a confined space for long periods of time, which reduces blood flow to the legs and makes it easier for blood clots to form. If these clots flow into blood vessels in the lungs and clog them, they can cause pulmonary embolisms, which can be fatal. This is commonly known as "economy-class syndrome."
Kazuhiko Hanzawa, a specially appointed professor of cardiovascular surgery at Niigata University, says, "People tend to be inactive when it is cold, so more attention is needed."
It is important to walk as much as possible during the day and to move the ankles even when sitting. In addition, frequent water intake is also a good preventive measure. It is also important not to hold back on going to the bathroom. If you have no choice but to stay overnight in your car, Hanzawa urges you to keep your legs in a position that allows you to stretch them out horizontally as much as possible.
Infection control: Early identification is the key
In cold winters, the air flow is faster closer to the floor due to the temperature difference, making it easier to inhale dust. This can lead to asthma, pneumonia, influenza and other infectious diseases. Nemoto says, "I would recommend sitting on something like a pipe chair, if available, rather than sitting on the floor."
For the first few days after evacuation, the top priorities are to secure food and water and survive the cold, but after that, it is important to quickly recognize the spread of infectious diseases.
At evacuation centers, it is possible to assign a person in charge to monitor fevers. Koji Wada, a doctor of public health at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, advises evacuees to do what they can, little by little, such as reporting increases in infectious diseases and establishing a communication system to connect anyone who becomes sick with medical care workers.
There are also things that people outside of the affected areas can do to help protect the health of quake victims. Many volunteers are expected to rush to the disaster-hit areas in the future, but Wada cautioned, "There is a possibility of bringing in infectious diseases from outside the disaster area. If you are not feeling well, do not go to the affected area. Also, if you are in the area and you feel ill, please leave."
(Japanese original by Mikako Shimogiri, Sooryeon Kim and Yuki Nakagawa, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)
