A heat wave is gripping South Korea despite the passing of Cheoseo, a traditional seasonal marker signaling the end of summer heat. On the 23rd, the day of Cheoseo, the country recorded its first heat-related death in half a month.
A total of 47 people visited some 500 emergency rooms nationwide for heat-related illnesses the previous day, and one of them died, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on the 24th. It was the first fatality from heat-related illness since the 8th of this month.
Heat-related illness is an acute condition caused by heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can bring on headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue and reduced consciousness, and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
The number of heat-related illness cases had reached triple digits for eight straight days from the 1st of this month, including 239 in a single day on the 7th, before easing from the 9th. The daily count dropped to just six on the 16th but has risen again in recent days. The latest fatality was a man in his 70s living in Goseong County, South Gyeongsang Province, who was stricken while working in a field.
3,656 Heat Illness Cases This Summer
The latest death brought the number of heat-related illness cases this summer to 3,656, including 33 deaths. That is fewer total cases than in the same period last year, which saw 3,984 cases, but more deaths, compared with 26 a year earlier.
Of this summer's cases, 76.6% were men and 35.7% were older adults aged 65 and over. By type, heat exhaustion accounted for the largest share at 61.5%, followed by heat stroke at 17.8%, heat cramps at 11.3% and heat syncope at 7.9%.
To avoid heat-related illness, people should stay cool by showering frequently and wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Outdoors, using a parasol or hat to block the sun also helps. Drinking water regularly, even without feeling thirsty, is recommended, while alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which cause dehydration and disrupt sleep, should be avoided.
When someone is affected, they should be moved immediately to a cool place to lower their body temperature. If the person is unconscious or shows severe symptoms, call 119 without delay to have them taken to a medical facility.
