As the monsoon has effectively ended and a full-on heat wave is expected to begin nationwide, the disease control authorities urged extra caution to prevent heat-related illness. Last year, the number of heat illness cases jumped more than sixfold within a week right after the monsoon ended, leading authorities to judge there is a possibility of a sharp increase in patients this year as well.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 28th that after the end of the monsoon, daytime temperatures are expected to rise sharply and remain higher than average through late Aug., and urged the public to strictly follow health guidelines in response to the heat wave.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, from this day, full-fledged sweltering heat is expected to continue nationwide. Authorities said that especially from late July to early Aug., the vacation season, health damage from the heat wave could increase as outdoor activities rise.
In fact, last year, heat illness surged after the torrential rains ended. According to the agency's "Emergency Department Heat Illness Surveillance System," after the torrential rain period (July 16–20) last year, heat illness cases jumped from 199 to 1,295, and 10 deaths occurred. For the entire last summer, there were 4,460 heat illness cases and 29 deaths.
This year as well, as the heat wave begins, patients are increasing rapidly. From May 15 to the 26th of this month, 1,399 heat illness cases were tallied at emergency rooms nationwide, with eight presumed deaths.
Of the patients, 81.8% occurred outdoors. By location, workplaces were the most common at 26.2%, followed by fields and paddies (15.9%) and roadsides (12.4%). Outdoor workers and those engaged in agriculture were found to be particularly vulnerable to heat waves.
By age group, those in their 60s accounted for the most at 18.4%, followed by those in their 50s (17.4%) and 40s (14.5%). Older adults 65 and over made up 30.2% of the total. Of the eight deaths, seven were age 80 or older.
The agency emphasized that older adults, people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic diseases are particularly vulnerable to heat waves and should follow preventive measures such as adequate hydration, using cooling devices, and using cooling centers. It advised avoiding outdoor work or exercise during the hottest hours of the day and asked family and neighbors to check in frequently when an older person lives alone.
The Ministry also plans to check the health status and living environments of vulnerable groups through public health center home-visit care services during the heat wave and to provide guidance on refraining from field work and using cooling centers.