As the heat wave and tropical nights continue day after day, it has been reported that the number of people visiting emergency rooms due to heat-related illnesses this summer has surpassed 3,000.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 2nd, the number of heat-related illness patients that entered emergency rooms nationwide yesterday was tentatively counted at 87. As a result, the cumulative number of heat-related illnesses has increased to 3,049 since May 15, when the monitoring system for heat-related illnesses was activated this year.
Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency first operated the monitoring system for heat-related illnesses in 2011, the number of patients has exceeded 3,000 only twice: in 2018 (4,526) and 2024 (3,704).
In the case of this year, when heat waves have continued since early summer, the number of heat-related illness patients is 2.3 times higher than the same period last year (from May 20 to August 1), raising the prospect that if this trend continues, it may surpass last year's level.
The estimated number of deaths from heat-related illnesses this year is 18, which is more than double the number (8) during the same period last year. Among the 3,049 cumulative heat-related illness patients, 31.8% are elderly aged 65 and older.
By type of illness, heat exhaustion accounts for 61.0%, followed by heat stroke (16.4%), heat cramps (13.0%), and heat syncope (8.3%). The locations of occurrence include outdoor spaces such as workplaces (31.8%) and fields (11.7%), but there are also cases of heat-related illnesses occurring in indoor workplaces (7.4%) or at home (6.1%).
To prevent heat-related illnesses, it is advisable to take frequent showers, wear loose and light-colored clothing, and drink water often even if you do not feel thirsty. It is best to avoid outdoor work or exercise and stay in cool places during the hottest hours from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.