Dobong-gu, COVID-19 and Heatwave OUT!...Heat Emergency Measures Activated

▲Heat Relief Shelters ▲Night Safety Accommodations ▲Heatwave Escape Refrigerators ▲Cooling Supplies Support and Health Check Calls for Vulnerable Groups ▲Free Parasol Rental ▲Crosswalk and Park Shade Installation ▲Expanded Road Water Cleaning and Comprehensive Heatwave Measures Activated

Heat Relief Shelter

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) is activating comprehensive heatwave countermeasures to prevent safety blind spots during the heatwave while extending the COVID-19 social distancing level 4 in the metropolitan area for two more weeks until August 8.

Dobong-gu has prepared and is operating support measures for heatwave countermeasures including ▲cooling shelters ▲nighttime safety accommodations ▲heatwave escape refrigerators ▲support for cooling supplies and health visits (check-in calls) for vulnerable groups ▲free parasol rentals ▲installation of shade shelters at crosswalks ▲expanded road water cleaning.

First, the "Heatwave Vulnerable Elderly Cooling Shelter," operating until September 30, designates a total of 33 locations including 10 public senior centers, 11 community service centers, 9 welfare facilities, and 3 outdoor cooling shelters. Other shelters will be reopened later depending on the social distancing level.

The general shelter operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. However, the 10 senior center cooling shelters open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and are only available to seniors who have passed 14 days after their second vaccine dose.

All indoor cooling shelters have designated COVID-19 prevention managers and have implemented strict measures such as ▲visitor logs ▲temperature checks ▲hand sanitizer provision ▲social distancing among users ▲ventilation to ensure safe use. Outdoor cooling shelters conduct thorough disinfection in connection with the Senior Club senior job project.

During nighttime heatwaves, nighttime safety accommodations operate. Dobong-gu has designated four lodging facilities in Dobong-dong, Banghak-dong, Chang-dong, and Ssangmun-dong as safety accommodations. These operate only during heatwave warnings in July and August and are available from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day.

The nighttime safety accommodations are for vulnerable elderly residents aged 65 or older living alone, recipients of basic livelihood benefits, near-poverty groups, and housing-vulnerable groups such as rooftop residents. Those wishing to use the service can apply at their local community service center.

In particular, to prevent heat-related illnesses among seniors and infants caused by sudden heatwaves, Dobong-gu installed "Heatwave Escape Refrigerators" from July 27 along riversides, major walking trails, and screening clinics (testing sites) to provide residents with free cool bottled water.

The refrigerators are installed at ▲3 outdoor cooling shelters ▲5 riverside locations ▲2 urban parks ▲3 screening clinics (temporary screening sites), with bottled water supplied about four times a day. To prevent indiscriminate use of bottled water, the district plans to deploy voluntary disaster prevention teams and volunteers to ensure proper distribution to those in need.

Additionally, Dobong-gu is promoting a parasol usage campaign that helps avoid the summer heat and maintain social distancing in daily life, thereby also preventing COVID-19. The parasol campaign continues until September, offering a total of 1,210 parasols for free rental.

Parasols are available to all Dobong-gu residents. By simply registering basic personal information in the management ledger, one parasol per person can be rented for three days.

Parasol rental locations include a total of 29 sites such as ▲Dobong-gu Office ▲community service centers ▲public health centers ▲Dobong Community Hall ▲comprehensive welfare centers ▲Chang-dong Culture and Sports Center ▲libraries.

Furthermore, road water cleaning to lower surrounding temperatures is being expanded. The number of road water cleaning vehicles will increase from 4 to 8, and their operating hours will be extended from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the frequency increased from twice to three times a day.

Check-ins for vulnerable elderly during heatwaves will also be strengthened. Using the Internet of Things (IoT), the temperature and humidity of target households are monitored. During heatwave warnings, care managers will call every other day to check on residents, and if calls are not answered, they will visit homes directly to ensure the safety of the elderly.

Until the end of this heatwave, Dobong-gu plans to intensively provide health management and check-ins at least once a week by visiting nurses for chronic patients, disabled persons, and elderly living alone. Cooling supply sets including cool pillows and cool mats will be provided to about 6,500 vulnerable individuals such as recipients aged 65 or older, near-poverty groups, and selected vulnerable groups by neighborhood.

Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, said, "Since level 4 social distancing is maintained, personal communication is blocked, and safety blind spots may occur during the heatwave. We will do our utmost to fill that gap. We ask all residents to comply with distancing but also to carefully watch over neighbors and contact the district office or nearby community service centers if anyone needs help."

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