According to media reports, evacuees in Kumamoto and Oita are suffering from economy class syndrome. The regions have experienced many tremors since April 14th, including a magnitude 7.3 quake.

Economy class syndrome occurs when people remain in the same position for long periods. This can cause blood clots to form in the veins of the legs. The condition can be fatal if the clots block blood flow. It can be prevented by not sleeping in a sitting position, walking and drinking sufficient fluids. However, the risk is growing among evacuees as many are living in limited spaces such as cars.

The government is trying to raise awareness of the issue and preventive methods. Businesses and individuals have also joined medical workers to address the problem. This includes distributing items such as compression stockings and cardboard beds.

4月14日以降、熊本・大分地方では、マグニチュード7.3の地震を含む多くの地震が発生しており、これらの地震による避難生活者の間でエコノミークラス症候群にかかる人が出ていると、報道が伝えています。

エコノミークラス症候群は、長時間同じ姿勢でいる場合に起こります。足の静脈に血の塊ができ、それが血管に詰まると命にかかわる状態に陥ることもあります。この病気は、座った姿勢で眠らないこと、歩行すること、十分に水分を摂ることで、予防できます。しかし、避難生活者たちの間では、車中などの限られたスペースで生活している人が多いため、この病気にかかるリスクが高まっています。

政府は、エコノミークラス症候群とその予防法について啓発に努めています。医療従事者とともに、企業や個人もこの問題に取り組んでおり、弾性ストッキングや段ボール製ベッドなどの配布が行われています。

Listening Quiz

1. Complete the sentence: Major causes of economy class syndrome include ( ).

• awalking too much without drinking adequate water
• bsleeping in dusty places such as cars or cardboard beds
• csleeping in a sitting position and not drinking sufficient water

2. The word “limited” in the second paragraph means most nearly:

• aconfined
• bincomplete
• ccompressed

3. “This” in the second sentence of paragraph two refers to:

• ablood clots in the legs
• beconomy class syndrome
• cstaying in the same position

4. As more sufferers are now able to return to their homes, the risk of economy class syndrome is gradually decreasing.

• aTRUE
• bFALSE
• cN/A (not applicable)