Persistent bitter cold, watch out for cold disease...The highest number of patients occurs between 6 and 9 a.m
Feb 07, 2025
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On the morning of the 7th, the temperature in most regions was below minus 10 degrees Celsius due to heavy snow.
As of 8 a.m., the temperatures in major cities are minus 7.3 degrees in Seoul, minus 7.9 degrees in Incheon, minus 1.5 degrees in Daejeon, minus 0.4 degrees in Gwangju, minus 4.4 degrees in Daegu, minus 2.2 degrees in Ulsan, and minus 0.3 degrees in Busan.
Most areas are unlikely to escape below zero even during the day, and there will be ice sheets all over the road in the middle of the day, so be careful when moving.
In particular, as the cold is predicted to continue for the time being, alertness to cold diseases such as hypothermia and frostbite, which can be caused by cold temperatures and strong winds, is needed more than ever.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 233 people with cold diseases occurred from December 2nd, with 134 people, more than half of them aged 65 or older. Those in their 50s and 40s followed, and four children under the age of nine were also confirmed. In particular, it was found that the most cases occurred between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Cold diseases are caused by cold, and typical cases include hypothermia, which drops below 35 degrees Celsius, and frostbite of skin or tissue.
Hypothermia shows symptoms such as tremors, speech disorders, and unconsciousness due to a sharp drop in body temperature. In severe cases, special care should be taken as the function of the heart and respiratory tract deteriorates, blood pressure drops, and shock can lead to death.
frostbite is a disease in which the skin and tissues under it are damaged by the cold environment, and it occurs mainly in the terminal parts of the body such as hands, feet, ears, and nose. Early symptoms of frostbite include reddening, pale skin, pain, tingling, burning sensation, and blistering. If the damage is not severe, it will recover to normal within a few hours, but continued exposure to a cold environment in this state can cause serious aftereffects, such as necrosis as the skin or terminal tissue turns black.
In order to prevent cold diseases, it is necessary to wear several layers of clothing such as underwear when going out and wear cold-weather goods such as gloves, scarves, and masks to maintain an appropriate body temperature. It is also important to keep peripheral areas such as hands, feet, and ears warm. If clothes, socks, shoes, etc. are wet, they should be changed to dry ones as soon as possible.
In the case of underlying diseases such as cardio-cerebrovascular disease and high blood pressure, senior citizens aged 65 or older, and infants and toddlers, outdoor activities should be refrained as much as possible on very cold days. In addition, if you drink a lot, it can be dangerous to not recognize even if your body temperature drops sharply due to the cold, so it is advisable to avoid heavy drinking even if you attend dinner or meetings in the cold.
Professor Park Jong-hak of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Korea University Ansan Hospital said, `If hypothermia or frostbite is suspected, the patient should be immediately moved to a warm environment and wrapped in a blanket or clothing to increase body temperatureThe area suspected of being frozen should be immersed in warm water (the temperature at which you feel better when you put your hand in it) of 38-42℃, and it should be avoided to soak in very hot water. If you are unconscious, call 119 immediately and take you to the hospital," he said.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
