Gwangjin-gu Fights Heatwave Amid COVID-19!

Establishment and Implementation of Comprehensive Heatwave Measures to Prepare for Summer Heatwaves Amid COVID-19... Promotion of Shade Installation and Health Monitoring for Heatwave-Vulnerable Groups

The appearance of the 'Talking Shade Shelter' installed at Jayang Intersection last May

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Seon-gap) has prepared a comprehensive heatwave countermeasure plan to minimize heatwave damage in preparation for the upcoming summer heatwave amid the COVID-19 pandemic, taking proactive measures.

First, the district has designated the period from last month 20th to September 30th, about four months, as the heatwave comprehensive countermeasure implementation period and operates a heatwave countermeasure comprehensive situation room consisting of 11 members in 4 teams when a heatwave advisory is issued. The heatwave countermeasure comprehensive situation room maintains a 24-hour emergency contact system and takes situational actions according to heatwave damage.

Also, various shaded rest areas are provided so that residents waiting for traffic lights or buses can take a short break from the heat.

Especially this summer, as the heatwave coincides with COVID-19, six “Talking Shade Shelters” equipped with sound systems inside the existing fixed shade shelters are operated to broadcast guidelines on daily quarantine rules and social distancing when using the shade shelters.

Along with this, last year, the district installed 11 “Smart Shade Shelters” that automatically open and close in response to the surrounding environment based on Internet of Things (IoT) and solar power technology, the first in Seoul, and this year added 6 more, operating a total of 17.

Additionally, the district installed and began operating “Village Bus IoT Shade Shelters,” which retain the functions of smart shade shelters but significantly reduce installation area, at six village bus stops.

Furthermore, 61 fixed shade shelters shaped like parasols near crosswalks or traffic islands and 19 tent-type shade shelters using cold wind-blocking rest areas are operated.

The district also strengthens measures for heatwave-vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone and chronic patients. First, the district assigns visiting nurses to each neighborhood who, together with neighborhood welfare planners, conduct health management visits and expand non-face-to-face phone monitoring to check on residents to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Along with this, cooling supplies such as first aid kits, cool mats, and cool arm sleeves are provided.

In addition, a heat-related illness surveillance system is operated through the Disease and Health Integrated System to report daily occurrence status, patrol major homeless areas, and promote admission to protection facilities and return home through counseling, as well as distribute relief supplies to protect homeless people on the streets.

At construction sites, to prevent heat-related illnesses, rest times and work stoppage recommendations during heatwaves are provided, and shade shelters and rest areas will be created for heat illness prevention.

Along with this, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at construction sites, mask-wearing, hand sanitizer placement, and continuous management of quarantine status will be maintained.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin District (right), is delivering a happiness package containing cooling supplies to elderly people living alone in the area on the 16th.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “This year, with the combined challenges of heatwaves and COVID-19, it is expected that residents will have a more difficult summer than ever before. We will do our best to thoroughly respond to COVID-19 while flawlessly implementing heatwave countermeasures so that all residents can have a safe and healthy summer.”

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