Evaluation of heat stress at site of open-air music festival and survey on preventive behaviors of visitors for heat stress in summer and autumn

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a risk for heat stress at a site of open-air music festival and to perceive what kinds of goods visitors prepare and what kinds of behaviors visitors do in the open-air music festival for protecting against heat and cold weather. The field surveys were conducted in two different open-air music festivals held in July and October 2011. In order to calculate thermal indices, some meteorological parameters were measured at the site. Questionnaire survey were carried out for the visitors concerning preventive behaviors from heat and cold weather. In July, there was a high level of heat stress condition at the site of open-air music festival according to guidelines of heat disorder and thermal stress. It is necessary to measure the meteorological parameters at the site to reduce heat stress. Most of the visitors took sports towels, water etc., hat and fan for protecting against heat stress. No visitors suffered heat disorder in this festival. This was thought to be due to visitors’ appropriate behaviors for protecting against heat stress. In October, there was amoderate level of heat stress at the site of open-air music festival. Some visitors had no goods for protecting against heat in October.