Jeonnam Fire Department "Consecutive Heatwave Warnings... Beware of Heat-Related Illness Accidents"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Fire Department has urged caution regarding heat-related illness incidents following the heatwave advisory.

The Jeonnam Fire Headquarters (Chief Ma Jaeyoon) announced on the 16th that with a heatwave advisory issued nationwide and the heat expected to continue for the time being, caution is required to prevent heat-related illness incidents.

From 2018 over three years, a total of 361 heat-related illness cases occurred in the Jeonnam region.

By age group, those in their 70s accounted for the highest number with 76 cases (21%), followed by those in their 80s with 61 cases (17%), and those in their 60s with 59 cases (16%). Notably, individuals aged 60 and above accounted for 196 cases (54%), more than half of the total.

By type, heat exhaustion accounted for 223 cases (61%), heat stroke 60 cases (17%), and heat cramps 41 cases (11%).

By time of day, 120 cases (33%) occurred between 3 PM and 6 PM, followed by 32% between 12 PM and 3 PM, indicating concentration during the hottest hours of the day.

Jeonnam Fire Department will operate 110 heatwave emergency ambulances across 18 fire stations until September to respond immediately to heat-related patients.

Additionally, through pre-inspection tours led by the Fire Headquarters, the dispatch response system was confirmed, and approximately 20,000 additional heatwave equipment items, including 12 types such as ice vests for rapid emergency treatment in ambulances, were stocked to establish a proactive dispatch readiness posture.

Ma Jaeyoon, Chief of Jeonnam Fire Headquarters, stated, “Wearing masks due to COVID-19 relatively increases the perceived temperature, so anyone can easily be exposed to the risk of heat-related illness incidents. It is important to follow preventive measures regularly, and especially for children with weak immunity or elderly people with underlying conditions, their health status should be checked frequently while adjusting the level of activity.”

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