Jemulpo-gu District in Incheon (Mayor Kim Chan-jin) announced on the 5th that it is stepping up home health visit services for health-vulnerable groups, including seniors living alone, chronic disease patients and people with disabilities, as heat wave advisories continue to be issued in succession.
 [The Korean Today] Home health visit service for heat wave prevention © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
The measure is aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and casualties in advance as heat waves grow longer and more widespread. The district is deploying dedicated personnel to visit vulnerable households directly or check on their well-being by phone to monitor their health condition.
During the visits and phone checks, officials also provide education and information on heat wave response guidelines and heat-related illness prevention rules. The district said it plans to continue ongoing health monitoring and prevention activities to respond swiftly and appropriately to heat wave conditions.
The district outlined seven heat wave prevention guidelines: ▲drink water frequently; ▲refrain from outdoor activity during the hottest hours, from noon to 5 p.m.; ▲wear well-ventilated clothing; ▲use cooling shelters; ▲check the weather forecast daily; ▲seek medical treatment if feeling unwell; and ▲call 119 in an emergency.
The district also provided guidance on emergency measures to take when a heat-related illness occurs. For a conscious person, they should be moved to a cool place, have their clothing loosened, be cooled down and given fluids, and 119 should be called if symptoms do not improve. For an unconscious person, 119 should be called immediately, and the person should be moved to a cool place, cooled down and transported to a hospital quickly; they should not be forced to drink water or other beverages.
Jemulpo-gu Mayor Kim Chan-jin said, "To prevent heat-related illnesses, people should refrain from prolonged outdoor activity during the daytime and pay attention to their health by getting sufficient rest and staying hydrated." He added, "We will do our best to minimize heat wave damage among health-vulnerable groups through systematic health management and heat-related illness prevention activities."
As heat waves grow more intense and last longer each year, building a tighter safety net for elderly residents and chronic disease patients who have a reduced capacity to cope on their own has emerged as a key task for local governments, drawing attention to whether this latest move to strengthen home health visits will translate into real prevention of harm.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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