Gyeonggi Fire Department Urges Special Caution for 'Autumn Hiking' During Chuseok Holiday

Mountain Accident Rescue

The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters recently reported that mountain accidents are concentrated in the autumn months of September and October over the past three years, urging special caution.

According to the Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 25th, the number of mountain accident rescues in the province has been increasing annually, with 2,386 cases in 2020, 2,428 cases in 2021, and 2,796 cases in 2022.

Last year's 2,796 mountain accident rescues accounted for 24.3% of the nationwide total (11,514 cases), ranking the highest in the country, surpassing Seoul (1,687 cases) and Gangwon (1,566 cases). In particular, 707 cases, or 25.5% of the annual total, occurred in September and October last year.

The Fire and Disaster Headquarters is concerned that the number of hikers will increase during this year's extended Chuseok holiday period.

In fact, mountain accidents during the Chuseok holiday in the province over the past five years have totaled 325 cases.

To prevent mountain accidents, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters advises checking weather forecasts in advance, stretching sufficiently, and choosing hiking trails that match one’s physical condition. They also added that elderly or novice hikers should avoid unprepared strenuous hikes, recommending light walks or gentle trails instead.

Furthermore, they emphasized to absolutely refrain from hiking under the influence of alcohol and to familiarize oneself with the locations of safety facilities installed around hiking trails, such as simple rescue first aid kits and mountain location signposts, as a way to avoid getting lost.

In particular, if an accident occurs during hiking, it is advised to immediately report to 119 after confirming the mountain location signpost installed on the trail or familiar landmarks, perform first aid using emergency medicines stocked in the simple rescue first aid kit, and calmly wait for the rescue team to arrive.

Cho Sun-ho, head of the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Mountain accidents often involve serious injuries and it takes considerable time for rescue teams to arrive at the scene, so special caution is required to prevent safety accidents. Above all, preventing accidents in advance is best, so it is helpful to always follow hiking safety rules and learn emergency treatment methods such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation."

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