Jeju Fire Department Issues Heat Illness Advisory... 365 Patients Reported Over 5 Years

Published 14 Jun.2023 10:49(KST)

The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Kim Su-hwan) will issue a "Summer Heat-Related Illness Safety Accident Warning" on the 15th to minimize casualties from heat-related illnesses ahead of the full-fledged summer season.

According to the Jeju Fire Headquarters on the 14th, there were a total of 365 heat-related illness cases in the Jeju area over the past five years, accounting for 3.5% of the nationwide total.

Summer Heat-Related Illness Safety Accident Prevention Webtoon <br>[Photo by Jeju Fire Headquarters]

Summer Heat-Related Illness Safety Accident Prevention Webtoon
[Photo by Jeju Fire Headquarters]

Last year, the number of heat-related illness cases per 100,000 people in Jeju was 13.7, the highest in the country.

By disease type, heat exhaustion (47.7%_174 cases) accounted for the most heat-related illness safety accidents, followed by heat cramps (26.8%_98 cases), heat stroke (12.6%_46 cases), and heat syncope (9.9%_36 cases).

The most common locations for accidents were workplaces (34.8%_127 cases), followed by rice fields and farms (22.2%_81 cases), and roadsides (7.7%_28 cases), with most cases (83.6%_305 cases) occurring outdoors.

Heat-related illness safety accidents occurred 58.6% (214 cases) between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and males (77.8%_284 cases) were more than three times as many as females (22.2%_81 cases).

Accordingly, since the 20th of last month, the Fire Safety Headquarters has equipped 32 119 ambulance teams across the province with heatwave equipment and organized 28 standby pump ambulances.

They are also establishing a multifaceted response system to minimize response gaps through rapid response when ambulance vehicles are unavailable, and to strengthen emergency medical consultations and emergency treatment guidance.

Chief Kim Su-hwan said, "When a heatwave warning is issued, outdoor activities should be minimized, and when engaging in outdoor activities, sufficient hydration and rest are necessary. If abnormal symptoms such as headache, cramps, or loss of consciousness appear after outdoor activities, it is essential to report to 119 and receive prompt emergency treatment."