Ministry of Health and Welfare targets heat protection for over-80s

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will strengthen heatwave protection for people aged 80 and over, who made up 13 of 21 estimated heat-related deaths reported this year.

A Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency monitoring report logged 2,441 heat-related illnesses from May 15 to Aug. 4; 825 patients were 65 or older, including 300 aged 80 and above. The rate among those aged 80 and older was the highest across age groups, at 12.5 reported patients per 100,000 people.

Of the 300 cases among people aged 80 and older, 54, or 18.0 percent, occurred at home, compared with 172 of 2,441 cases across all ages, or 7.0 percent.

The ministry will use the nationwide visiting health management program to encourage people 80 and older to avoid field and greenhouse work, check home cooling conditions and make welfare calls.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, "people 80 and older require special protection," citing their population-adjusted illness rate and their share of estimated deaths.

"Preventing heat-related illness requires efforts indoors as well as outdoors, and families and neighbors need to check older people's health and indoor environments frequently," the ministry said.