Checking in 2-3 Times a Week on Vulnerable Groups
District Mayor Lee Seung-ro Praises "Model Case of Heatwave Support Measures"
Amid record-breaking heatwaves, the recent efforts of the Dongseon-dong Community Service Center in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Seung-ro), which has continuously identified and supported low-income elderly individuals living alone suffering from heat-related illnesses, are gaining attention.
The Dongseon-dong Community Service Center conducts welfare checks at least 2 to 3 times a week to prevent vulnerable groups from being exposed to crisis situations during the heatwave. When a heatwave warning is issued, they perform additional intensive welfare checks, during which they have rescued residents exposed to danger.
Following the escalation of the heatwave crisis level, on the 13th, the Dongseon-dong Community Service Center visited the home of Mr. A (90, male), a low-income elderly person living alone with mild dementia, to check his health and ended up rescuing him. At the time of the visit, Mr. A was lying down, exhausted and showing symptoms of heat-related illness due to the indoor heat.
The staff at the Dongseon-dong Community Service Center gave Mr. A an electrolyte drink and contacted emergency services (119) to provide urgent care. Afterwards, they contacted his family and supported his admission to a nursing hospital.
On the same day, while returning after rescuing Mr. A, the staff found Ms. B (81, female) sitting on the street wearing a thick padded jacket. Ms. B also showed symptoms of heat-related illness, so they helped her hydrate to regain consciousness, then contacted the nearby police substation to verify her identity before handing her over to her family.
On the 1st, following a report from a younger sister that Mr. C (64, male), a basic livelihood security recipient, was unreachable, the staff, along with police and paramedics, opened the door and transported the collapsed individual to Korea University Anam Hospital.
Lee Myung-bok, head of the Dongseon-dong Community Service Center, stated, “We will utilize all available human resources such as welfare planners, our neighborhood care teams, and members of the local community security council to closely monitor the health of vulnerable groups during the heatwave.”
Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “The case of the Dongseon-dong Community Service Center is a model example of Seongbuk-gu’s heatwave support measures,” and added, “We will further strengthen and implement heatwave countermeasures to ensure that not a single Seongbuk resident suffers from heatwave damage.”
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