The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 3

    BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo

  • 5

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 7

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 9

    Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales

  • 11

    Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech

  • 13

    Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI

  • 15

    Arrest warrant hearing for DPK leader Lee to be held Tuesday

  • 17

    Korea hammers Thailand to clinch men's football knockout berth

  • 19

    Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater

  • 2

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 4

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 6

    Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday

  • 8

    INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels

  • 10

    Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry

  • 12

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 14

    Disney+ aims to expand investment in original Korean content

  • 16

    Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape

  • 18

    Appellate court upholds 9-yr prison term for man over filming, distributing sexual videos featuring women

  • 20

    Yoon signs off on plan to waive expressway tolls during Chuseok holiday

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, September 24, 2023 | 10:31
Health & Science
Beware of heat stroke
Posted : 2021-07-27 17:33
Updated : 2021-07-27 17:34
Yoon Ja-young
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
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
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.


Emailyjy@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight
2Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors
3Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday
4Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales
5Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry
6Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech
7Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI
8Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater
9'Songpyeon' for low-income families 'Songpyeon' for low-income families
10Big insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterested Big insurers up for sale, but financial conglomerates appear disinterested
Top 5 Entertainment News
1BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
2[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
3Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
4[INTERVIEW] Seoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea INTERVIEWSeoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea
5[INTERVIEW] 'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema INTERVIEW'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group