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KMID : 1143420200130302199
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Public Health Weekly Report
2020 Volume.13 No. 30 p.2199 ~ p.2215
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Analysis of heat-related illness surveillance in 2019
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Lee Su-Kyung
Kim Sun-Mi
Yoo Hyo-Soon
Joe Woo-Kyoung
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Abstract
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In 2011, The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) launched a heat-related illness (HRI) surveillance system. Annually, a nationwide network of approximately 500 hospital emergency rooms (ERs) participate in the system during the summer, the hottest part of the year in Korea. The aim of this report was to analyze the 2019 HRI surveillance system.
From May 20 to September 20, 2019, the KCDC operated the HRI surveillance system to monitor heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, and heat edema. According to hospital reports, 1,841 people developed HRIs and 11 deaths were attributed to HRI. Findings indicated that the percentage of HRI occurrence was high among males (77.8%) and in Gyeonggi Province (18.6%), and in their 50s (20.9%) followed by their 40s (16.6%) and 60s (15.9%), indicating higher rates per 100,000 as age increased. It was high in outdoor workplaces (32.4%) followed by rice fields (14.6%) and roadside areas (10.8%). In 2019, HRI-realed deaths (n=11) were attributed to heatstroke (90.9%) and heat exhaustion (9.1%), and the highest percentage of deaths occurred among people in their 50s (45.5%).
This study says that heat-wave related health damage can be prevented by following the guidelines for heat wave control. Furthermore, this study discussed the 2020 imperative of COVID-19 infection prevention. To prevent HRIs and COVID-19, this study recommended that people refrain from going out during heat waves, avoid close, dense, or sealed areas and remove the masks to prevent HRIs when it is possible to maintain a social distance of more than two meters. Also, this study highlighted shortcuts to protect the health of society; i.e., that when using air conditioning, people should practice safe health tips such as ventilating indoor spaces every two hours.
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KEYWORD
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Heat-related illness (HRI), Heat stroke, Heat, Workplace, Surveillance
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