Uljin-gun Activates 'Cold Illness Surveillance System'... Preventing Health Damage from Cold Waves

December to February 28 Next Year, Emergency Room Surveillance System

Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk Province, will operate the 'Cold-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' from December until February 28 of next year to reduce health damage to residents caused by the winter cold wave.

Uljin County will operate the 'Cold-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' from December until February 28 of next year.

This surveillance system is a measure to quickly respond by identifying patients with cold-related illnesses who visited emergency rooms in Uljin-gun through cooperation between Uljin-gun Public Health Center, Uljin-gun Medical Center, Gyeongbuk Province, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and monitoring health impacts caused by the cold wave.

The cold-related illness surveillance system records the occurrence of hypothermia, frostbite, chilblains, and other conditions caused by the cold, and the collected data is disclosed daily on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s website.

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts that this winter’s temperatures in December and January will be similar to the average, while February is expected to be warmer than usual.

However, due to the possibility of large temperature fluctuations, sudden cold spells may reduce physical adaptability, increasing the risk of cold-related illnesses, so attention to health is necessary.

County Governor Son Byung-bok stated, “We will closely monitor the health impacts on residents caused by the cold wave by operating the cold-related illness emergency room surveillance system,” and urged, “Please pay attention to cold wave warnings and actively practice prevention of cold-related illnesses by following health guidelines.”