高齢者および学生における災害時の自力避難における体力と避難時間

DOI IR Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • コウレイシャ オヨビ ガクセイ ニオケル サイガイジ ノ ジリキ ヒナン ニオケル タイリョク ト ヒナン ジカン

Search this article

Description

Evacuation is necessary to preserve lives during a disaster. Perpendicular and horizontal independent evacuations are needed when a tsunami warning occurs. The purpose of this study was to examine evacuation time and physical strength of healthy elderly persons and college students during simulation of independent evacuation for a tsunami. Subjects included 20 healthy elderly persons and 20 college students. Physical characteristics were evaluated and included height, weight, percent of body fat and muscle mass. Physical fitness was evaluated by measuring grip strength, flexibility, chair stand test (CST) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG). Physiological measurements included: heart rate, blood lactate concentration and subjective feelings of fatigue. During the simulation, subjects were instructed to walk 500 m and climb stairs to the third floor. Evacuation times for elderly persons and college students were approximately 6 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively. College students were significantly superior in all physical fitness parameters compared to elderly persons. Elderly persons and college students had 8.0 and 9.3 mmol/dl of blood lactate concentration, respectively and it was likely that climbing the stairs resulted in anaerobic metabolism. There was a significant correlation between time required for evacuation and physiological elements of weight bearing index (WBI), CST and TUG. These findings show that function of the lower limbs had an influence on evacuation time. Our results emphasize the importance of daily exercise and physical training to increase strength and function of the lower limbs.

Journal

Report a problem

Back to top