Health ministry activates emergency heat-wave response task force

The health ministry said it had activated an emergency heat-wave response task force to protect vulnerable groups through stepped-up field inspections as high temperatures persisted throughout the country.

The ministry decided on Aug. 7 to form the task force in response to a prolonged nationwide heat wave. Its first meeting began at 8:30 a.m.

The task force reviewed three-times-daily daytime and nighttime patrols, daily welfare checks, emergency accommodation and cooling shelters for homeless people, residents of small single-room dwellings and people at risk of dying alone. It also examined emergency welfare support for households whose crises deepened because of heat and plans for field visits, and agreed to maintain hotlines between local governments and related facilities.

It also examined calls and visits for vulnerable older people, a full suspension of outdoor activities in senior employment programs, and emergency preparations at disability-service providers. The task force will increase monitoring and safety checks for people using the emergency safety service and step up operational inspections at senior centers, dementia care centers and disability-service providers.

The task force reviewed emergency-room surveillance for heat-related illnesses, distribution of heat-illness guidance and behavioral posters, and public-health-center home-visiting health-management programs. It will keep intensive safeguards in place for people aged 80 and over and use home visits to hear field views and identify areas for improvement.

"Until the heat-wave situation is completely over, we will not let down our guard for a single moment and will do our utmost to prevent harm to vulnerable groups," Hyeon Su-yeop, the health ministry's first vice minister and task-force head, said.

He said the task force would "strengthen cooperation with local governments and relevant institutions."