Protecting Yongsan Residents' Safety from Scorching Heat This Summer

Yongsan-gu Implements Comprehensive Heatwave Measures for 2020... Heatwave Situation Management T/F Team Established for 4 Months Until September 30, Focusing on Vulnerable Groups Such as Elderly Living Alone and Homeless... Disaster Helpers, Cooling Centers, and Home Health Care Programs Operated

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this summer is predicted to be hotter than average with an increased number of heatwave days compared to last year. Last year, 11 deaths nationwide were attributed to heatwaves.

In response, Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) is implementing a comprehensive heatwave countermeasure plan to protect vulnerable groups during the summer.

The district will operate a special Task Force team for heatwave situation management for four months from this month until September 30. The team consists of 8 members divided into two units: the Situation Management Unit and the Health Management Support Unit. When a heatwave advisory is issued, the team will expand to a Heatwave Countermeasure Headquarters with 14 members across four units, including the Facility Management Unit and the Public Relations Support Unit.

Centered on the Countermeasure Headquarters, the district will establish a heatwave situation management and response system. In particular, to protect vulnerable groups, it will operate programs such as ▲ Disaster Helpers ▲ Cool-down Shelters ▲ Heatwave Rest Time System ▲ Vulnerable Group Home Visit Health Management Program, focusing on managing elderly living alone, homeless people, and others.

There are 604 Disaster Helpers composed of caregivers (elderly care assistants), dedicated social workers, visiting health managers, home care managers, and designated helpers. They check on the health and safety of vulnerable groups through phone calls and visits, and provide guidance on actions to take during heatwaves.

Cool-down Shelters operate at a total of 107 locations. People can escape the heat at nearby community centers, senior and social welfare centers, and senior citizen centers. The total capacity reaches 4,900 people. Signs indicating Cool-down Shelters are posted at entrances for easy identification.

The Heatwave Rest Time System is designed for outdoor workers who have a high incidence of heat-related illnesses. The district encourages rest during afternoon hours when heatwave advisories are issued at various public job sites and construction sites, and directly monitors whether appropriate rest is provided, especially to construction workers.

The Vulnerable Group Home Visit Health Management Program is also noteworthy. Visiting nurses are assigned by neighborhood, identifying target individuals such as elderly living alone and homeless people in small rooms, then providing home medical care and nursing. An emergency rescue team operates to immediately transport individuals to hospitals in urgent situations.

Additionally, the district carries out meticulous safety administration in various areas, including gas supply facility safety management, activation of emergency contact networks in preparation for power outages, mitigating urban heat island effects through street cleaning, and installing shade structures at crosswalks.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “We will operate the heatwave situation management Task Force team for four months until September. We will thoroughly prepare for the peak summer heat and do our best to support vulnerable groups during heatwaves.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.