Sleep, thermoregulation and thermal comfort in shelter simulated gymnasium during the intermediate period

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate sleep in evacuation shelter-analogue settings in autumn using blankets for disaster relief with an air mattress or with a cardboard. Subject experiment was conducted to examine the sleep variables using actigraphy, physiological responses, and subjective sensations. The subjects completed questionnaires regarding their sensations of thermal & comfort and subjective sleepiness before and after the sleep. Twelve young healthy students took part in the sleep study of two nights for seven hours from midnight to 7 am in the gymnasium. There were no significant differences in sleep efficiency index, total sleep time and total wake time between with the air mattress and with the cardboard although sleep onset latency showed significant difference between the two conditions.