Establishment of Medical Institution Cooperation System in Si-Gun... Continuous Operation of Heat Illness Patient Surveillance System
Active Promotion of Heatwave Prevention Guidelines and Operation of Emergency Safety Assurance Service Linked with 119
Jeonnam Province is making every effort to protect the health of vulnerable groups in preparation for the summer heatwave.
On the 21st, the province announced that it will implement the ‘2024 Summer Heatwave Response Measures’ targeting heat-vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone.
Over the past 10 years, more than 40% of heat-related illness cases have occurred intensively during the daytime at outdoor workplaces and in rice paddies and fields. The number of patients has rapidly increased from 124 in 2022 to 222 in 2023, prompting a focus on protective measures for heat-vulnerable groups.
Accordingly, from May to the end of September, a cooperative system will be established with 44 medical institutions operating emergency rooms in cities and counties to continuously operate a heat illness occurrence monitoring system. Heatwave prevention guidelines will also be actively promoted through visits to senior centers and village broadcasts.
An emergency safety and security service will be operated for elderly people living alone and persons with disabilities, enabling rapid response in emergencies by linking with 119 emergency services. Additional services such as heatwave alert notifications and voice reporting will also be provided.
Furthermore, more than 4,200 dedicated welfare workers and life support staff for elderly customized care services will be intensively deployed to check on the well-being of elderly people living alone, providing services such as meal management, companionship, cleaning, and phone check-ins to prevent casualties caused by the heatwave.
During the heatwave period in July and August, a monthly cooling cost support of 165,000 KRW, increased by 50,000 KRW from last year, will be provided to a total of 9,444 senior centers. Flexible use of existing heating and rice budget funds will also be allowed depending on the operational status of each senior center.
Households in crisis facing difficulties in daily life due to unemployment, business suspension or closure, or serious illness will be actively identified, and emergency welfare support funds to prevent heatwave damage (710,000 KRW for living expenses per single-person household, etc.) will be significantly strengthened.
At elderly job sites employing about 63,900 people, mandatory heat illness prevention education will be conducted at least once in June to ensure safe project execution during the heatwave. Working hours will be flexibly adjusted to avoid activities during the hottest times depending on the heatwave situation.
Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, said, “This year, the average temperature in July and August is expected to be high with more hot days than usual, so thorough preparation against heat-related illnesses is essential.” He added, “We will carefully implement various heatwave prevention policies to ensure that all residents can spend the summer safely and healthily.”
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