Nearly 3,200 Heat Illness Patients Amid 'Heatwave'... Second Highest on Record

Follow Health Guidelines Such as Drinking Water Frequently and Staying Cool

The heat that seems to melt everything away. Photo by Yonhap News

As the heatwave continues unabated, the number of heat-related illness cases in South Korea is approaching 3,200.

According to the Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 26th, there have been 3,191 cases of heat-related illnesses reported from May 20th to the previous day (25th). Among these, the estimated number of deaths is 30.

This year's number of heat-related illness cases is the highest since 2018, which recorded 4,526 cases during the worst heatwave on record.

Of the heat-related illness patients, 77.9% are male. By age group, the 50s (19.0%), 60s (18.5%), and 40s (14.5%) are the most affected. Notably, seniors aged 65 and older account for 996 cases, representing 31.2% of the total. By type of illness, heat exhaustion (55.6%) accounts for more than half, followed by heat stroke (20.4%) and heat cramps (14.5%).

The locations of occurrence are mostly outdoors, with outdoor workplaces (31.3%) and fields (14.4%) making up 78.0%. However, cases of heat-related illnesses occurring indoors, such as indoor workplaces (8.7%) and homes (6.7%), also account for 22.0%.

The KDCA emphasizes the importance of following the health guidelines of 'water, shade, and rest' to prevent heat-related illnesses, which include drinking water frequently, staying cool, and avoiding activities during the hottest times of the day.