Be Careful of Heavy Rain, Heatwaves, and Water Accidents in July!

The Official Start of Summer
Monsoon Season Begins in Gyeongnam Region from Early July

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The Gyeongnam Fire Headquarters urged residents to be cautious about safety regarding heavy rain, heatwaves, and water-related accidents on the 5th.

According to the 119 dispatch statistics over the past five years, there was an average of 73.2 water-related accident dispatches per month in July.

This is a 66.5% (34.8 cases) increase compared to the monthly average of 38.4 cases, indicating a higher risk of accidents occurring.

Last year, there were a total of 391 firefighting activities related to heavy rain in the province, excluding water rescue, with 3 deaths and 1 missing person reported.

Small rivers, underpasses, and stormwater drains can rapidly flood during heavy rain, causing accidents.

Therefore, inspections should be conducted before the rain starts, and access and work should be avoided once the rain begins.

From July, caution is needed regarding heatwaves.

Last year, there were a total of 76 heat-related injury patients, with types of injuries including heat exhaustion in 36 cases (46%), heatstroke in 17 cases (22.3%), heat cramps in 12 cases (15.7%), and heat syncope in 11 cases (14.4%).

When a heatwave is forecasted, outdoor activities should be avoided first, and hydration should be maintained regularly. During the hottest hours (12 PM to 5 PM), rest should be taken and exposure to sunlight minimized to prevent body temperature rise.

Especially, elderly people aged 65 and over have reduced sweat glands, making temperature regulation through sweating less effective, and those with chronic diseases have a diminished normal response to external temperatures, so caution is necessary.

As the number of vacationers engaging in water activities increases, the provincial fire headquarters operates the 119 Citizen Water Rescue Team to prevent safety accidents. Last year, they rescued 23 people and transported 26 to hospitals.

The main types of accidents were being swept away by currents, isolation, and falls.

To prevent water-related accidents, warm-up exercises should be done and safety equipment must be worn.

Also, water activities should only be done in designated areas, and wearing shoes with anti-slip features is recommended to prevent falls.

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