Due to the ongoing sweltering heat, the number of heat-related illnesses has sharply increased nationwide this summer.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 87 patients were treated for heat-related illnesses at 516 emergency medical institutions across the country on the previous day. Among them, one person died in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency officially activated its heat illness surveillance system on May 15, a cumulative total of 3,143 patients have visited emergency rooms, and 19 deaths have been reported. This figure is approximately 2.2 times higher than the 1,409 cases reported during the same period last year (from May 20 to early August), with the number of deaths also 1.7 times higher than last year's total of 11.
Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions that occur due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, accompanied by various symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps. In severe cases, it can lead to decreased consciousness or death, making quick action essential.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, individuals aged 65 and older accounted for about 32% of all patients. In terms of the types of heat-related illnesses, the most common form is 'heat exhaustion,' known as heat prostration, which constituted 61.3% of the total, followed by heat stroke (16.2%) and heat cramps (12.8%). Notably, heat stroke is the most dangerous type, characterized by complete failure of the body's temperature regulation, leading to a rapid increase in body temperature, and it appears that most fatalities fall within this category.
The locations where heat-related illnesses occurred most frequently were outdoor workplaces at 31.7%, followed by roadsides (12.6%) and rice paddies or fields (11.5%), making up the majority of the cases.
To prevent heat-related illnesses, it is advisable to refrain from going out during the hottest part of the day. When engaging in outdoor activities, wearing an umbrella and a wide-brimmed hat and drinking water every hour can be helpful. Taking frequent showers and wearing light, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is also recommended.