Overview of Heat-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System
Purpose
- To monitor the occurrence of heat-related illnesses during the summer and to encourage public awareness and preventive activities through the rapid sharing of information
Reporting Entities
- Medical institutions operating emergency rooms nationwide (approximately 500)
Reporting Period
- May 15 – September 30 (during the operational period of the pan-governmental comprehensive heatwave measures).
Reporting Subjects
- Patients with heat-related illnesses and deaths presumed to be from heat-related illnesses due to heatwaves
Heat-related illnesses: Heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat edema, etc.
Reporting System
- Participating medical institution → Local public health center → Competent province/city → Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Reporting Time
- When a patient with a heat-related illness visits the emergency room, the medical institution reports it by 10:00 AM the following day.
Result Feedback
- Results are posted on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website by 4:00 PM every day.