[Severe Cold Wave②] 70-Year-Old Woman Collecting Recyclables, Hands Frozen Solid

Freezing Cold Weather... Outdoor Workers Exposed to Hypothermia and Frostbite Vulnerability
More Patients Than Last Year
KMA Warns of Colder Conditions Ahead... "Possibility of Expanding Cold Wave Warnings"

On the afternoon of the 14th, a woman in her 70s collecting scrap paper near Hongdae Entrance Station in Seoul showed her frozen hands. She works more than 12 hours a day on average and expressed how difficult it has been recently due to the severe cold wave. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "My hands are completely frozen... It's really tough in weather like this."

On the afternoon of the 14th, near Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, a woman in her 70s collecting waste paper, Ms. Kim, said, "Working in the recent cold wave is very difficult." She was picking up trash from restaurants, wearing thick layers of clothes two or three deep.

Ms. Kim said, "I injured my hand a few days ago while collecting waste paper, and maybe because of the cold, the medicine doesn't seem to help," adding, "It's so cold that I can hardly speak." Regarding her working hours, the elderly woman said, "I go out at 6 p.m. and go to the junk shop at 5 a.m. the next day to sell the waste paper and finish," adding, "The wind is very strong and it's really cold."

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, with the Arctic cold air moving in, the perceived temperature in Seoul on the 14th dropped to as low as minus 19.7 degrees Celsius. When meeting the elderly woman collecting waste paper, the temperature at 6 p.m. was minus 8 degrees Celsius, with a perceived temperature expected to be around minus 10 degrees. Considering that she stays outside all day, she was experiencing a cold wave with a perceived temperature of about minus 20 degrees Celsius with her whole body.

On the 14th, when the wind chill hovered around minus 20 degrees Celsius, a woman in her 70s was sorting through scrap paper. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

On Thursday the 15th, the cold wave is expected to intensify further. With strong winds and other factors, the perceived temperature is expected to drop even more.

In this situation, outdoor workers were working with their bodies frozen solid. Mr. Park, 29, who organizes electric kickboards, said, "I work outside all day," adding, "I usually organize about 200 to 300 kickboards."

He continued, "I carry several hot packs and put them on various parts of my body, but still, the cold is unavoidable," he lamented. Although Mr. Park was wearing gloves, because he had to touch and move the kickboards directly with his hands, the knuckle parts of his fingers were exposed through the gloves. He said, "They say it will get even colder... but what can I do? I just endure and work."

On the afternoon of the 14th, a woman in her 50s is distributing flyers near Hongdae Entrance Station in Seoul. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Mr. Choi, 64, who distributes flyers near Hongdaeipgu Station, also said the recent cold wave has been very tough. Mr. Choi said, "Working outside in winter itself is very hard," adding, "When the wind blows during a cold wave, my body freezes so much that it's hard to move." He added, "Still, people accept the flyers well, so I can finish work quickly."

Meanwhile, delivery workers racing against time kept running to deliver packages faster. The sweat continuously flowing dried again in the strong wind, creating the perfect conditions for catching a cold. One delivery worker said, "Even if it's cold, delivering quickly is the most important," as he tirelessly carried packages.

Biting Cold Wind... Plummeting Perceived Temperatures, Beware of Hypothermia

With the severe cold arriving, diseases that outdoor workers are easily exposed to include cold-related illnesses. Hypothermia, which causes body temperature to drop below 35 degrees Celsius, can lead to loss of consciousness and life-threatening conditions if the temperature falls below 32 degrees. Additionally, frostbite is a condition where skin tissue freezes and blood supply is cut off, potentially affecting muscles or bones in severe cases.

From December 2017 to March this year, a total of 45 workers suffered cold-related industrial accidents during winter. By industry, construction had 9 cases, sanitation work such as garbage collection had 8, and retail and consumer goods repair had 6, mostly affecting outdoor workers. When working outdoors for long periods in winter, attention should also be paid to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by blood vessel constriction and increased blood pressure, as well as fractures from slipping on icy surfaces.

Motorcycles used by delivery riders and courier drivers are parked on the side of the road. The drivers complained that the strong wind during the severe cold wave makes it even more difficult. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

In this regard, with the strongest cold wave hitting in December, the number of cold-related illness patients is also increasing. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 15th, 33 cold-related illness cases were recorded from the 1st to the 13th, 9 more than the 24 cases during the same period last year. The estimated number of deaths is 3. Among the cold-related illness patients, 64% (21) were male and 36% (12) female. By age, those 65 and older accounted for 48.5% (16). The most common occupations were unknown at 15 (45.5%), followed by unemployed (excluding homeless) at 12 (36.4%).

By disease, hypothermia was the most common with 28 cases (85%), followed by frostbite with 3 cases (9%), and others with 2 cases (6%). The time of day with the most cases was between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. (8 cases, 24.2%). The location of occurrence was outdoors in 75.8% (25 cases) and indoors in 24.2% (8 cases).

Outdoors, cases mainly occurred by the roadside (10 cases). In the previous winter season (2021?2022), 300 cold-related illness cases were reported, a 30.7% decrease from the previous year, but deaths increased by 28.6% to 9.

With the strongest cold wave arriving, this is why the government must respond more actively and swiftly with related measures for outdoor workers. The cold wave is expected to continue for the time being. Meteorological analyst Park Jeong-min said at a regular briefing on the 14th, "Due to a sharp temperature drop on the 17th and 18th, the lowest temperatures of this winter are expected," adding, "There is a possibility that cold wave warnings will be expanded."

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