Operation of the Spring Water Warehouse
24-Hour Opening of Cooling Centers and More
Seongdong-gu in Seoul announced on July 10 that it will significantly strengthen its heatwave response system to protect the safety and health of residents, in preparation for the escalation of the heatwave warning and the prolonged period of extreme heat.
Following the issuance of a heatwave warning in Seoul on July 7, the district convened an emergency response meeting centered on 18 departments in charge of heatwave countermeasures. During the meeting, each department reviewed key management items and response plans. Various measures to minimize heatwave-related damage in daily life were discussed.
Seongdong-gu will first enhance the operation of heat mitigation facilities. In addition to the existing 167 shade canopies at crosswalks, the district has installed 20 additional canopies at the Salgoti Water Playground and created a cool roof on the rooftop of the Geumho Sports Center. Eight cooling fog systems will also be newly installed at the entrances of rose arches at the Daehyeonsan Rose Garden. The number of street water spraying vehicles, which cool down the roads, will be increased from five to seven. Two electronic display boards along the Jeonnongcheon stream will broadcast daily heatwave advisories.
The district is also continuously inspecting and operating 200 designated cooling centers, including senior centers, community centers, and welfare centers. In particular, in response to the heatwave warning, the first-floor Bookmaru space in the district office has been opened as a 24-hour cooling center. Additionally, nine "safe accommodations" are being operated for low-income seniors aged 60 and older who live alone, as well as elderly couples with vulnerable living conditions. To protect transportation-vulnerable residents, 56 "Seongdong-type Smart Shelters" and 162 "Smart Cooling and Heating Chairs" are available from 4:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily.
The district will also operate the "Seongdong Spring Water Warehouse" from July 9 to August 21 to prevent heat-related illnesses and dehydration during outdoor activities. Twice daily, at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., label-free bottled water will be distributed to vulnerable groups at risk from heatwaves.
Care for heatwave-vulnerable groups will also be strengthened. The district plans to focus on a home-visit health management project, regularly checking in by phone and in person with more than 22,000 people, including socially isolated single-person households, seniors living alone, and people with disabilities, and delivering heatwave response items such as cooling tissues and cooling arm sleeves.
In addition, to protect outdoor workers such as environmental officials and public workers, the district operates a "heatwave rest break system" that suspends work during extreme heat. It also shares real-time heatwave information with construction site personnel through a dedicated SNS chat room to strengthen on-site safety management.
Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "As the heatwave is expected to start earlier and last longer than last year, we will focus on field-oriented heatwave response to ensure the safety and health of our residents. We will pay special attention to vulnerable groups such as seniors and people with disabilities, and thoroughly manage the operation of daily-life-oriented heat mitigation facilities such as cooling centers and smart shelters, so that all residents can spend the summer safely and in good health."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
