Relationship between the Timing of Interest in Temperature and Perception of Hot Environments among School Nurses (Yogo Teachers): Case Study of Elementary Schools and Junior High Schools in Kumagaya

Abstract

This study clarified the relationship between the time school nurses on duty become interested in knowing the temperature and their perception of hot environments by conducting a questionnaire survey at elementary and junior high schools in the city of Kumagaya, Japan.

School nurses could be divided into three types based on the time at which they become interested in knowing the temperature of hot environments. Type I comprises those knowledgeable about city, prefectural, and national policies on hot environments. Type II were very aware of high temperatures recorded in the city of Kumagaya, while type III comprised school nurses commuting within the city. The information collected from the questionnaires revealed that school nurses in type I utilized information provided by the city authorities, those in type II used public information provided by agencies such as the Japan Meteorological Agency, and school nurses in type III relied on information displayed in their vicinities.

In addition, regarding the perception of areas containing hot environments, information available on high temperatures in different areas of the city and school nurses’ perceptions were in good agreement within the type I category. For type II, those areas corresponded to urban heat islands. However, for type III, areas with hot environments were determined when school nurses visited a region. Among these three different types, perceptions of areas with hot environments and the reasons why a survey respondent encountered those areas differed among the groups.

In conclusion, adaptation to hot environments is in high demand in every region. This study highlights the importance of discussing teacher training based on perceptions of the climate.