Heatstroke first aid tips as Korea battles extreme heat

An unprecedented heat wave this July is putting the health of many in Korea at serious risk. On Tuesday, Seoul recorded a high of 37.7 degrees Celsius — the hottest temperature ever recorded in early July since official records began. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Tuesday that more than 1,200 cases of heat-related illnesses have been reported so far this year — more than double the number recorded by this time last year. Eight people have already died from heatstroke. Medical professionals warn that extreme heat can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition in which the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature. Heatstroke can also cause severe complications such as multiple organ damage and dysfunction and carries a high fatality rate. “Heatstroke that leads to loss of consciousness occurs when the autonomic nervous system fails and the body can no longer regulate its temperature,” said Lee Sung-woo, an emergency medicine specialist at Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul. In addition to heatstroke, prolonged exposure to extreme hWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times