During the Thaw Season and COVID-19, Hiking Crowds Surge... Mountain Accidents Also Increasing

Daedong Hospital Reports More Cases in Spring than Winter... Momentary Carelessness Leads to Serious Accidents

Spring Mountain Rescue Cases Increase by 48.9% Compared to Winter... Caution Advised for Hypertension and Heart Disease

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] As the herald of spring, the plum blossoms bloom in full, and every year around this time, the number of people visiting the mountains increases, with a recent surge in beginner hikers due to COVID-19.

However, hiking during the thaw season can quickly lead to serious accidents if one is careless.

According to the Fire Department's announcement, an analysis of mountain accident dispatch cases over three years from 2016 shows that out of a total of 28,318 cases, winter mountain rescue cases were 4,988, while spring mountain rescue cases, when the hiking population increases, rose by 48.9% to 7,429.

Distress accounts for 30.6%, slips and falls 5.4%, and personal illnesses 12.8% in order.

To prevent spring mountain accidents, it is essential to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the hiking course before climbing, and if you have underlying conditions such as hypertension or heart disease, you should avoid overly strenuous hiking routes.

Along with checking the weather forecast, since the temperature difference during the changing seasons is greater in the mountains than on flat land, pay attention to dressing appropriately to maintain body temperature.

If you suddenly use joints or muscles that have not been used during the cold winter, pain may occur or flexibility may decrease, making it easy to get injured even from minor impacts, so it is advisable to do sufficient stretching before hiking.

Since it is the thaw season when the frozen ground begins to melt, the ground may be weak or very slippery, so experts advise caution in shaded areas or places covered with fallen leaves and recommend using designated hiking trails.

It is recommended to wear hiking boots or shoes with grooved soles, and even if wearing sneakers, avoid shoes with high heels. Do not run to ascend quickly, put your hands in your pockets, or carry your hands behind your back.

Moon Jong-wook, head of the Spine Center at Daedong Hospital (orthopedic specialist), said, “During hiking, naturally going up and down can strengthen the lower body and back muscles that support the spine, but excessive hiking or carelessness can cause fall accidents, so caution is needed.” He added, “If you slip and fall on your buttocks and find it difficult to get up or feel severe pain, there may be spinal or hip joint injuries, so do not move and call 119 to receive professional treatment.”

After descending, it is good to relax muscles through stretching and raise body temperature with a half-body bath to loosen muscles.

If you feel pain after hiking, do not take it lightly and apply warm compresses; if you feel heat, apply cold compresses.

If muscle or joint pain persists for more than a week, it is recommended to visit a nearby medical institution for examination.

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