Installation and Operation of the 'Yangsim Bottled Water Refrigerator'
Jung-gu District in Seoul is launching full-scale measures to prevent heatwave damage to ensure residents have a safe and healthy summer. This year, with record-breaking high temperatures expected from June and a longer and more intense heatwave compared to last year, the district has prepared various measures to protect the safety of its residents.
About 30 members of the autonomous disaster prevention team, composed of residents from each neighborhood in Jung-gu, gathered at 2 p.m. on June 26 on the 7th floor of the Jung-gu Office main building to receive training on summer disaster preparedness activities and team operation guidelines. They also personally assembled 1,200 heatwave prevention kits to be distributed to vulnerable groups. Deputy Mayor Lee Sang-hoon also participated in assembling the kits alongside the residents.
The kits included five types of heatwave prevention items: cooling blankets, parasols, cool patches, cooling arm sleeves, and dehumidifiers. For residents of jjokbang (small, cramped rooms), five prevention items including handheld fans were provided. In particular, the kits were carefully assembled based on a prior survey conducted in each neighborhood to identify items preferred by residents vulnerable to heatwaves. The heatwave prevention kits assembled that day will be directly delivered to vulnerable groups by staff within a week.
From July to August, when heatwaves are most severe, conscience water refrigerators will be installed and operated mainly in outdoor parks frequently used by residents. This is to supply cool drinking water to residents and protect them from heat-related illnesses and dehydration caused by the heatwave.
The “Oh! Bingo! Conscience Water Refrigerator” operated by Jung-gu will be additionally installed this year in jjokbang areas vulnerable to heatwaves, with one indoor unit at Namdaemun Jjokbang Counseling Center and five outdoor units at Sindang Village Yard, Yaksu Sarangteo, Dasan Children’s Park, Hwanghak Ssamsi Park, and Son Ki-jeong Sports Park e-learning center. Through the six water refrigerators installed across the district, 3,600 bottles of water will be supplied free of charge daily.
Heatwave shelters where residents can escape the heat and rest will also be operated until September 30. Indoor heatwave shelters at 63 locations including community centers, senior centers, and libraries have been open since May 20, and six nighttime safe lodging facilities will be operated when heatwave warnings are issued.
A Jung-gu official stated, “We are making every effort to support supplies and operate shelters to prevent damage caused by this summer’s heatwaves,” and added, “We ask residents to refrain from outdoor activities when heatwave warnings are issued and to follow heatwave preparedness guidelines to take care of their health.”
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