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To prevent heatstroke and COVID-19, Ibaraki vending machines dispense free cold water to students

Ingrid Tsai Aug 31, 2020
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The vending machines have been set up at 14 different elementary and middle schools in Tsukubamirai city.

As temperatures soar, the rising number of individuals who have been hospitalized or passed away due to heatstroke has increased this past summer.

For one city in Ibaraki prefecture, to lower the risk of heatstroke and to limit the scope of COVID-19 infections in schools, fourteen elementary and middle schools have decided to install vending machines that will dispense cool water to students at no cost.

▼ If you see someone with symptoms of heat stroke, such as a body temperature higher than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), please be sure to move them to a cool place, apply cool compresses, and call local emergency services.

Each participating school in Ibaraki prefecture’s Tsukubamirai city will be given one to three vending machine units depending on their student population, and with the simple press of a button, students can receive one free cold bottle of water to bring home.

The vending machines will also act as a way to deter the spread of COVID-19 among schoolchildren. In Japan, it’s common for students to fill up their bottles at water basins with multiple faucets. However, these basins are a host to a number of germs as the water knobs are high contact areas, and whether or not soap is available is dependent on a school’s resources.

With the vending machines, it will be easier to distribute water to students in need, and may make disinfection a more streamlined process.

▼ No more stuffing heads under one of these bad boys.

With these two pros, reactions from Japanese netizens for the project have been overwhelmingly positive. Many users applauded the vending machine additions and some mulled over their past school days.

“Honestly, this is a good idea because you’ll often see Japanese school kids directly touch water basin faucets with their mouth.”
“I wish these were installed nationwide for kids.”
“I think this is a super great project, but wouldn’t it make more sense to stop outdoor club activities in this hellish weather?”
“Wow, I wish I had this since I always bought water after school.”
“I’m feeling a little envious. When I was at that age, I was celebrating because we got fans in the classrooms.”

▼ I don’t care how you do it, but please stay hydrated.

The extra vending machines will be available at the fourteen schools until the end of September. For the time being, keep cool folks and be sure to Beijing bikini it out until autumn if you have to!

Source: Livedoor News via Jin
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2, 3)
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