The heat wave gets stronger every year... Review of human casualty recognition standards and support system

The government has begun full-scale discussions to revise the standards for recognition of human casualties and support systems in line with the characteristics of heat wave damage that recurs every year.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced on the 3rd that it held its first 'Heat Wave Casualty System Improvement Task Force (TF)' meeting with experts from related agencies at the Seoul Government Complex.

The meeting was attended by experts from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the National Data Agency, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and experts from the Korea Environmental Research Institute and the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, heat waves are becoming stronger every year due to climate change. This summer, the highest daily temperature in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do rose to 42.5 degrees, breaking the previous record. There were 42 cases where the daily maximum temperature was above 39 degrees, and the number of heat wave warnings issued was 411, the highest ever.

However, due to the government's all-out response, such as actively guiding people to refrain from outdoor activities in each field following the establishment of a severe heat wave warning, deaths and heat-related illnesses decreased by 25.0% and heat-related illnesses by 10.2% compared to 2018.

Although heat waves are becoming a daily disaster, it has been pointed out that systematic statistical management and victim support systems need to be supplemented to accurately identify the characteristics of heat wave damage, as damage to the elderly is large and aftereffects appear late.

Currently, only heat wave damage occurring in areas where a heat wave warning is in effect is recognized, and even after-effects are determined after treatment is completed, reporting must be made within 10 days after the end of the heat wave response period.

At the meeting on this day, the National Disaster and Safety Research Institute announced 'Measures to classify and utilize statistics on heat wave deaths and heat illness deaths' and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced 'Directions for improving heat wave casualty recognition standards', and then attendees discussed improvement tasks.

Participants agreed with the point that heat wave death statistics managed by each organization caused confusion due to different collection purposes and standards, and jointly reviewed ways to analyze differences between statistics and link and utilize them.

Going forward, based on data collaboration between related organizations, the TF plans to focus on three directions: ▲ improving the accuracy of heat wave statistics, ▲ minimizing blind spots in support for those with disabilities, and ▲ strengthening victim support guidance, and preparing improvements before May 15, when next year's heat wave response period begins.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security will continue to pursue improvement tasks identified in this year's heat wave response, such as specifying measures when a severe heat wave warning is issued and reorganizing the standards for dual weather special warnings and heat wave crisis warnings.

Kim Yong-gyun, head of the Natural Disaster Office of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, said, "We will work with related organizations and experts to establish a statistical basis to accurately identify heat wave damage and create a scientific and data-based heat wave disaster management system by minimizing blind spots in support, such as those affected by the aftereffects."