Gwacheon City mobilizes all efforts to respond to extreme heat… operating 138 shade shelters and 48 heat-relief centers

Gwacheon City is implementing a 'comprehensive heat wave response plan for summer' that includes operating heat-relief centers, expanding heat mitigation facilities, protecting vulnerable populations, and strengthening safety management for outdoor workers to protect citizens' lives and health from the prolonged extreme heat.

The city has designated the period until September 30th as the heat wave response period and plans to maintain a cooperative system among relevant departments to continuously manage heat wave situations, concentrating administrative efforts on minimizing citizen damage.

First, the city is operating 48 heat-relief centers so citizens can escape the heat in nearby locations. Among these, 8 centers have extended operating hours for convenience during heat wave vulnerability periods, and 1 center is also open on weekends to increase accessibility.

Heat mitigation facilities have also been expanded. The city is operating 138 shade shelters at crossings and pedestrian paths, and this year has additionally installed 15 new shade shelters and replaced 11 aging ones to create safer and more comfortable walking environments.

The city is also working hard to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat. Gwacheon City produced 1,800 heat wave prevention kits for vulnerable populations such as elderly people living alone and low-income households to prevent heat-related illnesses, and distributed them sequentially through welfare institutions from August 5th to 7th. The prevention kits contained items such as UV umbrellas, hats, and cooling arm sleeves to help manage health and prepare for extreme heat.

Safety management for outdoor workers is also being strengthened. From August 3rd to 14th, the city is conducting unannounced inspections at construction sites to intensively check whether rest facilities are installed, sufficient break time is guaranteed, cooling and drinking water facilities are provided, and heat illness prevention guidelines are being followed. The city plans to continue strengthening on-site safety management to prevent industrial accidents caused by extreme heat.

In Kkulbee Village, an area densely packed with vinyl greenhouses, fire prevention safety inspections will be conducted on the 12th of this month. The city plans to inspect electrical and gas facilities and fire prevention equipment and eliminate fire risk factors in advance to thoroughly prepare for fire prevention caused by extreme heat.

At the same time, the city is actively promoting the '5 Major Rules for Public Heat Wave Prevention' through disaster text messages, the city website, social media services (SNS), electronic display boards, and banners.

Shin Gye-yong, Mayor of Gwacheon City, stated, "Since extreme heat is a representative natural disaster that threatens citizens' lives and safety, advance preparation and on-site response are more important than ever." He added, "We will do our best so that all citizens can spend a safe summer by seamlessly implementing heat mitigation facility expansion and heat-relief center operation, customized support for vulnerable populations, as well as safety inspections at construction sites and fire-vulnerable areas, and promoting the 5 Major Rules for Public Heat Wave Prevention."