Preventing heat illnesses
The Otsuka Group's Fourth Mid-Term Management Plan highlights "Global Environment" as a key social issue of focus. With climate change leading to an increase in extreme heat days and tropical nights globally, it is increasingly important to address health challenges such as managing physical conditions and implementing measures to combat heat stress linked to rising temperatures.
Guided by its philosophy of contributing to global health, Otsuka Pharmaceutical develops products based on scientific evidence. The company also utilizes insights from its research and development efforts to share health information in collaboration with various organizations, including local governments, businesses, and educational institutions.
For more than 30 years, we have run awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of hydration and electrolyte replenishment to prevent heat illness. These campaigns target various settings and age groups, including sports teams, schools, and workplaces in hot environments.
Beyond our comprehensive health-related partnership agreements with over 800 municipalities nationwide, which include all 47 prefectures, we are advancing initiatives in collaboration with various stakeholders. Notably, in 2023, we signed the first-ever partnership agreement with the Ministry of the Environment to promote measures against heat illness.
Currently, we are establishing mechanisms to widely disseminate accurate information, such as hosting Heat Illness Prevention Ambassador Courses for municipalities, schools, and companies, and providing educational materials titled “Water and Health” for schools.
Moving forward, we will continue to provide information and support that can be utilized for heat illness prevention in communities and schools, as well as for health management in companies, aiming to realize well-being.
The key to preventing heat illness is suppressing core body temperature elevation. The methods for this include: ① heat acclimatization, ② hydration and electrolyte replenishment, and ③ body cooling. Body cooling is highly effective because it directly addresses core body temperature, the fundamental cause of heat illness, making it a preventive measure gaining attention in recent years. Pre-cooling, originally practiced in sports, has recently been adopted as a new approach for heat illness countermeasures in workplaces, such as jobs in hot environments.
Pre-cooling can be implemented before work starts, particularly when it is difficult to lower work intensity or wear breathable clothing in high WBGT environments. This proactive approach is designed to reduce core body temperature in advance, helping to control any increase in body temperature during work. Techniques for pre-cooling include surface cooling methods and internal cooling achieved through drinking cold water or ice slurry (a liquid ice-based beverage).
Consider using pre-cooling before starting work or during breaks as necessary.
- *Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: "STOP! Heat illnesses Cool Work Campaign" (FY2023)
Initiation of the Heat Illness Prevention Ambassador Course
While it's essential for individuals to take precautions against heat illness, it is equally important to raise awareness and promote accurate knowledge for effective prevention of heat illnesses. At Otsuka Pharmaceutical, we provide the "Heat Illness Prevention Ambassador Course," designed for organizations such as municipalities, schools, and businesses. This course equips participants with specialized knowledge to conduct educational and promotional activities aimed at preventing heat illnesses. Upon completion, participants receive certification as "Heat Illness Prevention Ambassadors," which helps to enhance awareness and involvement in initiatives that promote heat illness prevention within their communities.
Educational materials for junior high schools “Water and Health”
Otsuka Pharmaceutical provides educational materials for junior high schools that go beyond heat illness prevention, teaching students about the relationship between the body and water. The content encourages students to consider the water they unknowingly lose daily and enables them to start implementing their conditioning practices immediately.
By understanding the role of water within the body, the reasons for water loss, and how to recognize dehydration, these materials promote individual behavioral change. They are utilized in various settings, including health and physical education classes.
We implement diverse, locally rooted initiatives globally to promote health, drawing on expertise from the Japanese heat illness prevention awareness initiative.