Comprehensive Measures for Summer Heatwaves in Gangbuk-gu

Gangbuk-gu Implements 15 Heatwave Safety Measures Across 4 Areas Including Major Industrial Accident Prevention and Vulnerable Group Protection

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Kyum-soo) is implementing the '2022 Comprehensive Heatwave Countermeasures' to prevent disasters and safety accidents caused by summer heatwaves.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the probability that the average temperature in July and August will be higher than usual is 50%, and this summer is expected to continue with hot weather.

Accordingly, Gangbuk-gu has established 15 safety measures across 4 sectors to proactively respond to summer disaster accidents, forming a heatwave countermeasure headquarters to respond to heatwaves in stages.

First, protection activities for vulnerable groups such as elderly living alone and chronic disease patients will be focused on. The district plans to select 308 disaster helpers including life managers, visiting nurses, and social workers to check on and provide visiting nursing care to vulnerable households during heatwave warnings to prevent safety accidents.

Cooling shelters, which serve as rest spaces for residents during summer, will also be operated. The shelters include a total of 118 locations: 105 welfare facilities such as senior centers and welfare centers, and 13 community service centers. The shelters are available until 6 p.m., and extended shelters operate until 9 p.m. on weekdays. Operating hours vary on holidays depending on the facility, so detailed information should be inquired at the respective facilities.

Worker safety management to prevent major industrial accidents will also be strengthened. Heatwave countermeasures such as heatwave response guidelines will be disseminated at construction sites and workplaces for self-education. Additionally, when a heatwave warning is issued, outdoor work will be temporarily suspended from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Along with this, measures such as mandatory rest times for outdoor workers at public job sites, emergency support of cooling supplies for vulnerable groups, special protection for homeless people, and a heatwave damage monitoring system will also be promoted.

To improve the walking environment for residents, a total of 73 heatwave shelters have been installed and are being operated, including 7 intelligent smart shade shelters equipped with Internet of Things technology at major crosswalks and traffic islands with heavy pedestrian traffic, and 8 mist shade shelters equipped with cooling fork systems that lower the surrounding temperature by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius to help pedestrians avoid direct sunlight.

In addition, safety management of vulnerable facilities such as gas supply facility inspections, operation of on-site specialized heatwave emergency squads, and road water cleaning will be carried out to resolve residents' inconveniences.

Kim Hyung-seop, Director of the Safety and Water Management Division, said, “We will strive to make Gangbuk-gu a safe district free from heatwave damage,” and added, “We ask residents to familiarize themselves with the national heatwave action guidelines and participate in having a safe summer.”