South Korea develops heatwave manual for disabled amid rising risks

South Korea's Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is launching a comprehensive initiative to protect individuals with developmental disabilities from heatwaves. This includes distributing tailored prevention guidelines and incorporating disability status into national statistics on heat-related illnesses, officially recognizing disabled people as a group highly vulnerable to extreme heat.

Previously, disabled individuals were often overlooked in heatwave response strategies, lacking specific statistics and tailored manuals. This oversight drew criticism, suggesting the government had been negligent in addressing their unique needs. Disabled individuals often face difficulties in responding promptly to rapid weather changes due to communication barriers or different ways of understanding information.

Starting in August, the KDCA plans to distribute health guidelines designed for people with developmental disabilities, utilizing visual aids like pictures rather than text-heavy instructions. This approach acknowledges that individuals with developmental disabilities may struggle with standard communication methods.

Furthermore, the KDCA has added categories such as "disability status," "physical disability," and "mental disability" to its heat illness surveillance system since May. This change aims to provide a clearer picture of how heat affects different segments of the population. The agency also plans to develop and distribute action plans for vulnerable groups, including disabled individuals and their caregivers, in July.

Data shows a rising trend in heat-related illnesses among disabled individuals, accounting for 3.3% in 2024 and projected to reach 4.6% in 2025. Notably, in 2025, disabled individuals are expected to represent over 10% of heat-related fatalities. Lawmaker Seo Mi-hwa emphasized the urgency, urging the KDCA to promptly distribute the manual to ensure disabled individuals can access information and prepare for heatwaves, which are increasingly becoming disaster events.

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We expect the KDCA to promptly distribute the manual so that disabled people can easily access related information and prepare for heatwaves.