DOSHISA Co., Ltd. (Osaka Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Masayuki Nomura, hereinafter DOSHISA), which plans, develops, and sells lifestyle products, conducted an awareness survey on "Children's Summer Heatstroke and Pre-cooling" targeting 600 men and women aged 20 to 59 who live with children (primarily 1 to 12 years old) nationwide.

Children, compared to adults, have immature thermoregulatory functions and are closer to the ground due to their short stature, making them more susceptible to the effects of reflected heat from the ground (radiant heat), and thus at higher risk of heatstroke *1. Against the backdrop of recent severe heat, some families are refraining from outdoor play for children during the summer. However, this survey revealed that heatstroke is experienced not only during outdoor play but also during indoor play.

*1 Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Let's Prevent Children's Heatstroke by Watching Out Together!"

Survey Results Summary

POINT 1

30.0% of children have experienced heatstroke during outdoor play, and 16.0% during indoor play.

POINT 2

55.8% of parents are taking measures to cool their bodies regularly. On the other hand, 73.5% responded that they do not know about "pre-cooling," which is cooling the body before an activity. Notably, 86.9% of households that have not experienced heatstroke responded that they do not know about it.

POINT 3

Even in households that took heatstroke prevention measures, measures to cool the body "from the inside" tend to be taken after the activity.

Survey Overview

Target Audience: 600 men and women aged 20-59 living with children (primarily 1-12 years old) nationwide.

Survey Method: Internet survey

Survey Period: June 1, 2026 - June 3, 2026

*The sum of proportions may not be 100% due to rounding to the second decimal place.

*When reprinting the content of this press release, please include the notation "Survey by DOSHISA Co., Ltd." as the source.

Survey Results 1: About 1 in 3 Children Experience Heatstroke. About 1 in 6 During Indoor Play

When asked, "Have your children ever experienced heatstroke during outdoor or indoor play in the summer (June-August)?", 13.5% responded "have experienced heatstroke" and 16.5% responded "have experienced a condition close to heatstroke" during outdoor play, totaling 30.0% for "those who have experienced heatstroke." Even during indoor play, 6.8% "have experienced it" and 9.2% "have experienced a similar condition," with 16.0% experiencing indoor heatstroke, revealing the reality that heatstroke risks exist indoors and require prevention measures.

Survey Results 1 Have your children ever experienced heatstroke during outdoor or indoor play in the summer?

Survey Results 2: About 60% of Parents Take Heatstroke Prevention Measures to Cool Their Bodies, but Over 70% Respond They Don't Know About "Pre-cooling"

To the question, "Do you usually take heatstroke prevention measures to cool your child's body?", 55.8% answered "Yes, I do," exceeding half. On the other hand, when asked if they knew about "pre-cooling," a measure to cool the body in advance before an activity, 73.5% responded "I don't know." While cooling the body itself is becoming more widespread, it appears that "pre-cooling," which involves cooling "before an activity," is not yet widely known.

Survey Results 2 Do you usually take heatstroke prevention measures to cool your child's body? / Do you know about "pre-cooling"?

Survey Results 3: Even in Households That Took Heatstroke Prevention Measures, Cooling "From the Outside" Such as Cooling Goods is Done Before Activities, While Cooling "From the Inside" with Food and Drinks Tends to Be Done After Activities.

When asked about heatstroke prevention measures taken before, during, and after activities by those who had taken them, cooling "from the outside" such as cooling goods was implemented by 49.7% before activities. In contrast, cooling "from the inside" with items like shaved ice and cold drinks and foods was done by 30.3% before activities and 41.9% after activities, indicating it is often taken as a post-activity measure.

Survey Results 3 What kind of heatstroke prevention measures did you take? And at what timing before, during, or after the activity?

Expert Commentary ~ Children's Heatstroke and "Pre-cooling" Before Activities ~

Professor Hidetoshi Tanaka, Specially Appointed Professor at Matsuyama University / Professor Emeritus at Yokohama National University, provided commentary on these survey results.

Reasons for High Heatstroke Risk in Children

The following four reasons are cited for why children are said to be more susceptible to heatstroke than adults:

1 The sweating function, the only means of autonomic heat dissipation in high-temperature environments, is underdeveloped, and they cannot sweat much.

2 Due to their short stature, they are close to the ground and easily exposed to radiant heat reflected from the ground.

3 During activities, they tend to become engrossed and may not immediately complain of physical discomfort.

4 There are significant individual differences in hydration, which is essential for heatstroke prevention; some children drink a lot, while others drink very little.

For these reasons, children are said to be at higher risk of heatstroke than adults.

Importance of Pre-cooling

Pre-cooling is cooling the body before (or during) an activity to make it less susceptible to heatstroke. Methods of pre-cooling include cooling the body from the outside with ice packs (ice bags) beforehand, or cooling the body from the inside with cold drinks and foods.

A representative food for cooling from the inside is called ice slurry, which is finely crushed ice in liquid form. Consuming this before an activity lowers body temperature, suppresses the rise in body temperature and heat sensation during subsequent activities, and creates a body state that is less prone to heatstroke, thus being effective for heatstroke prevention.

Effectiveness of "Shaved Ice" as Pre-cooling

Shaved ice, which can be easily made with ice from home, can be expected to have similar effects to ice slurry. Consuming shaved ice clearly shows a tendency to lower body temperature and is expected to reduce heat sensation, making it effective for heatstroke prevention.

However, consuming such cold items can put a strain on the stomach, so excessive consumption can cause abdominal pain during activities, so caution is advised. Due to individual differences, it is advisable to consume it while checking how much is needed to comfortably engage in activities.

Appropriate Timing for Consuming Shaved Ice as Pre-cooling

Regarding the timing of consumption, it is generally recommended to consume it 5 to 20 minutes before the activity. Consuming it too close to the activity may cause abdominal pain. It is also a good idea to consume it during breaks between activities. Furthermore, it is better to consume it slowly over a period of time rather than consuming a large amount rapidly.

【Commentator Profile】

Professor Hidetoshi Tanaka

Specially Appointed Professor at Matsuyama University / Professor Emeritus at Yokohama National University

After completing his master's program at the University of Tsukuba, he obtained a Ph.D. in Medical Science from Osaka University. His areas of expertise are exercise physiology and environmental physiology. He began research on heatstroke prevention around 1990. He is a member of the Japan Sport Association's research group on "Research on the Prevention of Heatstroke Accidents During Sports Activities." His publications include "Know and Prevent Heatstroke."

<"Shaved Ice Before Activity" at Home> Fun and Delicious Ways to Pre-cool

As a simple way to cool the body during hot weather, we propose "shaved ice before activity" that can be made at home. DOSHISA's home-use shaved ice makers allow you to easily enjoy fluffy shaved ice. Why not make it a habit of daily pre-cooling with a bite before play or exercise?

◆ Advantages of Shaved Ice for Pre-cooling

● Effective for Pre-cooling! Cools the body from the inside before activity

Eating shaved ice before an activity is expected to suppress the rise in body temperature and alleviate discomfort due to heat.

Enjoyable moments at home can directly lead to creating a condition that supports comfortable summer activities.

● Customizability

It can be freely arranged according to the day's activity level and preferences. Not only can it be enjoyed without getting bored every day, but it is also a great advantage of shaved ice that it can provide necessary salt and nutrients along with water.

Over 1.5 Million Units Sold in the Series!*2

Introducing the "Electric Fluffy "Toro Yuki" Shaved Ice Maker," Celebrating its 10th Anniversary

This survey found that even in households where children have experienced heatstroke, measures to cool "from the inside" such as shaved ice tend to be taken after activities, and the habit of cooling the body from the inside before activities is not yet fully established. We introduce DOSHISA's shaved ice products recommended for "pre-cooling," which can be easily and deliciously incorporated before outdoor play or exercise.

*2 Based on DOSHISA shipment volume, April 2016 - March 2026

【Product Overview】

Electric Fluffy "Toro Yuki" Shaved Ice Maker

This is a long-selling product with over 1.5 million units sold in the series*2 since its launch in 2016. It can shave not only regular ice but also soft ice made with high-sugar content drinks and frozen fruits, allowing for various recipe arrangements. You can easily enjoy fluffy shaved ice with this electric model.

Model Number: DTS-B5

Suggested Retail Price: 6,578 yen (tax included)

URL: https://do-cooking.com/toroyuki/dts-b5/

Electric Fluffy "Toro Yuki" Stick Shaved Ice Maker

This is a slim stick type that you can hold and shave with. The stick type allows you to use any size bowl or tall glass, expanding its use beyond shaved ice. The area around the power button has a slim design, making it easy for children with small hands to grip. The main unit weighs approximately 0.75 kg, making it lightweight and easy to use on the spur of the moment, so you can quickly prepare a bite before heading out.

Model Number: DHCI-B5

Suggested Retail Price: 6,028 yen (tax included)

URL: https://do-cooking.com/toroyuki/dhci-b5/

Manual Fluffy "Toro Yuki" Shaved Ice Maker

Since it does not use electricity, it can be used outdoors or at a relative's home where there are no outlets. By reducing the rotation speed, it is easier to adjust the texture of the ice. This model can now also shave regular household ice. The sensation of turning the handle is enjoyable, and the experience of children turning the handle themselves to shave ice makes it a fun habit.

Model Number: IS-TY-B5

Suggested Retail Price: 4,378 yen (tax included)

URL: https://do-cooking.com/toroyuki/is-ty-b5/

【Company Profile】

Company Name: DOSHISA Co., Ltd.

Representative: Masayuki Nomura, President and Representative Director

Location: <Osaka Headquarters> 1-5-5 Higashi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-8525

<Tokyo Headquarters> 2-21-46 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8573

<Tokyo Headquarters Building 1> 1-8-10 Higashi-Oimachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0011

Established: January 1977

Capital: 4.993 billion yen

URL: https://www.doshisha.co.jp/

【Inquiries Regarding This Product】

DOSHISA Co., Ltd. Customer Service Center

Tel: 0120-104-481 (Weekdays 9:00 - 17:00)

*Information in this press release is current as of the date of disclosure.

*Please note that the content is subject to change without notice.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Survey結果