Nationwide Heat-Related Illness Cases Surge Fivefold in One Day Due to Extreme Heat...99 Sent to ER
Cases of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke have increased fivefold in just one day due to the extreme heat.
On the 12th, children are enjoying water play at Samsunghyun History and Culture Park in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. On that day, a severe heatwave warning was issued in Gyeongsan. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
View original imageAccording to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on July 12, a total of 99 patients visited emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses on the previous day. There were no reported deaths. On July 10, the number of patients with heat-related illnesses was 21, meaning the figure surged nearly fivefold in just one day.
By region, there were 20 cases in Gyeonggi, 15 in Gyeongnam, 14 in Chungnam, 11 in Jeonbuk, 7 in Jeonnam and Gwangju, 6 each in Gangwon and Chungbuk, 5 in Gyeongbuk, 3 each in Seoul, Daejeon, and Ulsan, 2 each in Daegu and Jeju, and 1 each in Busan and Incheon.
Since May 15, the KDCA has been operating a heat-related illness emergency room surveillance system in cooperation with 516 medical institutions nationwide. As of this year, the cumulative number of heat-related illness cases has reached 636, with two suspected deaths, according to preliminary data.
Among these cases, 28.8% were elderly individuals aged 65 or older, and heat exhaustion accounted for the majority at 57.7%. The most common time of onset was between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. (15.4%), followed by 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (11.0%), and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (10.4%). The majority of cases, 86.5%, occurred outdoors, such as in fields or paddies.
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Extreme heat can directly cause heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, but it can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, and kidney disease. Experts warn that even healthy individuals may develop severe heat-related illnesses during periods of extreme heat while engaging in outdoor activities, and extra caution is advised.
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