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| A teenager tries to cool himself down with water at a basketball court in Dongdaegmun District, Seoul, as the temperature rose to 35 degrees Celsius, July 22. Korea Times file |
By Yoon Ja-young
As a heat wave is currently hitting the country, some people's lives ― even of those who are young ― are being lost due to exposure to the high temperatures. Doctors stress that heat stroke can be life-threatening.
In a Facebook group where participants share information about the Republic of Korea's military, the mother of an army corporal surnamed Shim posted that her son had died due to heat stroke and blamed army officials for reckless management.
According to the mother, her son joined the army last December to fulfill his compulsory military service and was placed in the 22nd Infantry Division as a medic. After being sent to a guard post (GP) on June 30, he was assigned for a reconnaissance mission near the border with North Korea.
The mother said that her son had to carry military gear on his back as well as a box in front of him, which she estimates together were heavier than half of his own body weight.
On his way back from the operation, the 20-year-old lost consciousness and collapsed. It took him almost four hours to be transported to an ER as helicopters could not be used for rescue operations due to the rough topography. Upon arrival, his body temperature was over 40 degrees Celsius. Eight days after he was diagnosed with heat stroke, he died.
In another case, on July 25, three new police officers who were undergoing outdoor training collapsed due to heat stroke. According to the police, the officers, from the 202 Presidential Mobile Police Guards, were sent to the Central Police Academy in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, for training. They were transferred to a hospital at around 6 p.m. after collapsing due to exhaustion. One of them was in serious condition and is still unconscious, while the other two are receiving treatment after being hospitalized. A family member of the unconscious officer told broadcaster KBS that the officer was currently being sustained by a ventilator.
According to the police's training guidelines, training exercises should not be conducted when heat wave warnings are in effect. While such warnings have been issued in the Chungju area for five consecutive days since July 21, the police school carried on with the outdoor training for around two hours that day, claiming they thought the heat wave warnings were only "advisories." Police said that those who did not want to train were excluded that day, but the three police officers had chosen to train.
If exposed to excessive heat that is beyond the ability of the human body's temperature regulating systems to control, serious health problems can occur. While heat cramps, heat edema, heat-related fainting and heat exhaustion can be overcome by getting out of the direct sunlight and into a cool space, heat stroke can be life-threatening. Unlike in heat exhaustion, where the body temperature rises to between 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, and the heartbeat remains normal without major irregularities in the central nerve system, in heat stroke the core temperature will rise to above 40 degrees Celsius, and the affected individual will experience serious symptoms such as delirium, seizures or unconsciousness. It poses extreme danger to one's health in that it can lead to the damage of multiple organs ― if not death ― unless immediate measures are taken.
Doctors stress that one should not underestimate the damage that can occur from heat.
"Heat itself can be health-threatening, especially if one has a history of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, stroke, chest pain or arteriosclerosis," said Professor Seo Min-seok of the Family Medicine Department of Incheon St. Mary's Hospital.
"If you feel your heart pounding or feel dizzy or lethargic while engaging in outdoor activities, you should immediately stop and move to a shady area and drink plenty of water," he said.
In the case of heat stroke, decreasing the body temperature as quickly as possible is crucial, but he said that prevention is more important.
"If the heat wave continues, people should check the weather conditions as well as the spots where they can find shade in case outdoor activities are unavoidable. Exercise should be taken very early in the morning or late in the evening, and be sure to drink plenty of water before and during exercise," he said.
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