Deaths from heat-related illness are occurring one after another this summer. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 9th, 3,237 people suffered heat-related illness from May 15 to the previous day. The presumed number of deaths from heat-related illness is 28. On the previous day alone, 131 people visited emergency rooms nationwide for heat-related illness. Among them, 2 died.
On the previous day, a man in his 30s in Incheon's Gyeyang District developed a heat-related illness on the roadside and died. A woman in her 80s in Wonju, Gangwon, was also found to have died from a heat-related illness while working in fields. The man in his 30s had no underlying conditions, and the woman in her 80s had underlying conditions.
Of those with heat-related illness, 76% are men and 24% are women. The age group with the most cases is 65 and older at 36%. Locations were most often outdoor worksites (25%), roadsides (13%), and fields (12%). Many older adults, who are vulnerable to heat because their ability to regulate body temperature declines, developed heat-related illness while working outdoors.
Heat-related illness occurs when the body is exposed to a hot environment for a prolonged period, causing vomiting, dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue. People usually recover by resting in a cool place, but with heatstroke, body temperature can rise above 40 degrees Celsius, leading to loss of consciousness and death. If heatstroke is suspected, call 119 and transport the person to a hospital quickly. To prevent heat-related illness, it is best to avoid outdoor activities at midday. If going out, wear light-colored, lightweight clothing, use a parasol, or drink water every hour.