This summer, with record-breaking tropical nights continuing, one additional suspected heat-related death occurred, bringing the total to 23. Including these, the total number of heat-related illness cases has exceeded 2,700.
According to the Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 17th, 43 heat-related illness cases were reported in one day. Since the surveillance system started operating on May 20th this year, the cumulative number of patients has increased to 2,704 as of the previous day. This is 13.8% higher compared to the same period last year (2,377 cases).
The daily number of heat-related illness cases rose from 58 on the 11th to 113 on the 12th of this month, then has been decreasing daily for four consecutive days since the 13th. However, a death that had not been reported on the 14th and 15th occurred additionally in the Chungnam region the previous day. As a result, the suspected heat-related deaths this summer have reached 23.
This year, 77.6% of heat-related illness patients were male. By age group, the highest numbers were in their 50s (18.7%), 60s (18.5%), and 40s (14.2%), in that order. Heat-related illnesses mostly occurred during the hours of 2-3 PM (10.7%), 3-4 PM (10.5%), and 6-10 AM (10.6%).
The locations of occurrence were mostly outdoors (78.6%), such as workplaces (31.3%) and fields (15.0%). By type of illness, heat exhaustion (55.3%) accounted for more than half of the cases. Other common illnesses included heat stroke (21.1%) and heat cramps (13.9%).
Heat exhaustion occurs when excessive sweating leads to inadequate supply of fluids and salts. Symptoms include pale skin, weakness and fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Body temperature does not rise above 40 degrees Celsius.
If the patient's body temperature rises above 40℃ and there is no sweating, with the skin becoming dry and hot, heat stroke should be suspected. When heat-related illness occurs, the patient should be immediately moved to a cool place, loosened from clothing, and their body cooled with a cool wet towel to lower the body temperature.
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