Gwanak-gu Supports Safe Summer for Elderly Paper Collectors with Smartwatches

Nationwide First Use of Smartwatches for Safety Management of Elderly Paper Collectors by Local Governments
Follow-up Measures After First Half Full Survey of Elderly Paper Collectors, Continuous Monitoring and Rapid Guardian Alerts in Crisis Situations

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has taken the lead nationwide in using smartwatches to ensure a safe summer for ‘elderly cardboard collectors’ who make a living by collecting recyclables.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s ‘Pilot Project for Heatwave Response Using Smart Devices’ aims to protect vulnerable groups from heatwaves by utilizing information and communication technology (ICT) aids. With Gwanak-gu selected for this project, it became the first local government in the country to implement it targeting elderly cardboard collectors.

Following the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s ‘Comprehensive Survey Plan to Support Elderly Cardboard Collectors,’ the district conducted a full survey of elderly cardboard collectors from February to May this year and provided welfare consultations to 265 seniors, linking them to welfare resources and supporting health management.

As a follow-up to the full survey of elderly cardboard collectors, the district plans to promote the heatwave response project using smartwatches until September, when the heatwave continues.

The district will prioritize providing smartwatches equipped with the ‘With Safe Healthcare Algorithm’ to elderly cardboard collectors who often work alone outdoors.

The ‘smartwatch’ monitors the wearer’s ▲heart rate ▲skin temperature ▲oxygen saturation in real time, and if abnormal signals are detected, it automatically sends a warning alert to the wearer to notify them of a dangerous situation, helping to prevent various heat-related illnesses and safety accidents.

In addition, in case of an emergency, the smartwatch sends text messages with the elderly person’s location and health status to pre-registered guardians, providing information quickly. Gwanak-gu and the Gwanak Senior Club will continuously monitor the elderly through a management control system to respond promptly to crisis situations.

Meanwhile, the district has conducted training on how to use the smartwatch for elderly cardboard collectors and their guardians at the Gwanak Senior Club.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Heatwaves are disasters. Elderly cardboard collectors are especially exposed to summer heat and various dangers during their activities, so ensuring their safety in summer is a top priority, which is why we are strongly promoting this project. We will continue to strengthen the safety management of residents by integrating smart technology.”

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