Gyeongnam Fire Department operates ‘119 Cold Wave Emergency Service’ from the 16th... Preparing for cold diseases

The Gyeongnam Fire Department announced on the 14th that it will operate the '119 Cold Wave Emergency Service' from the 16th to mid-March of next year to reduce damage from cold diseases in winter.

116 ambulances at 18 fire stations in the province will be equipped with rapid heaters, hot packs, and thermal blankets to help hypothermic patients maintain body temperature.

Insulating items are also placed in 106 'Pumpulance' fire pump vehicles equipped with emergency equipment, and when a cold wave warning is issued, they patrol the village to check the safety of vulnerable groups such as the elderly living alone.

When a report of suspected cold illness is received, the 119 situation room provides first aid instructions, and the dispatched emergency team transfers the patient to a hospital that can provide treatment appropriate for the patient's condition.

We will strengthen preliminary training for paramedics and inspections of vehicle heating systems, and secure emergency dispatch routes in areas vulnerable to heavy snow and ice.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 'Cold Disease Reporting Status Annual Report', the number of people with cold disease in Gyeongnam during the winter (December of the relevant year to February of the following year) was 26 in 2021, 22 in 2022, 25 in 2023, 17 in 2024, and 23 in 2025.

An official from the Gyeongnam Fire Department said, "Elderly people should refrain from going out early or at night and keep warm with winter gear such as hats and gloves. If you find someone who is suspected of having hypothermia, such as shaking severely or having slurred speech, move them to a warm place and call 119."