The world’s largest scout camp is affected by changeable weather to say the least.
Heavy rain meant that the Swedish team had to postpone their trip.
Now a strong heat wave has swept in – 400 participants have suffered heat stroke and authorities have sent out warnings.
– You can safely say that it is very hot, says scout leader Fredrik Larsson.
About 43,000 scouts from 158 countries are now gathering in Buan, about 18 miles south of Seoul in South Korea.
It is in place to participate in the Jamboree, the world’s largest scout camp.
The camp was officially inaugurated on Wednesday evening with, among other things, a concert and light show. From Sweden, 1,500 scouts are participating and they were supposed to have arrived at the site on Tuesday, but had to postpone their trip by a day when heavy rain turned the site into a mudslide.
At the same time, a heat wave is going on in the country and the humidity is high.
– The heat affects us all. It allows you to take it easy, but we have many leaders who make sure that all young people drink and get shade. The Swedes are not used to the heat, says Fredrik Larsson, scout leader in Kisa and one of the people who is involved in arranging the Swedish scouts’ trip.
Extra healthcare staff
Already during the first day of the camp, around 400 participants are reported to have suffered heat stroke, with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and exhaustion. The secretary-general of the committee organizing the camp has said extra medical staff will be deployed due to the heatwave, including an additional 30 doctors and 60 nurses, The Guardian reports.
– If you feel unwell, you get help from the Korean organization. They have built a hospital here and there are medical centers in each sub-camp, where the participants live. We also have health personnel from Sweden with us. Our main priority is that the participants have a good time, says Fredrik Larsson.
On Wednesday, South Korea’s Ministry of the Interior raised the heat wave to the highest level of weather warnings. It is the first time in four years that it has been done. Mass text messages have also been sent out to citizens’ phones with the call to stay indoors, writes The Guardian.
Take it easy
Many of the scouts’ activities take place outdoors, says Fredrik Larsson. Despite the heat, he thinks the camp works well and says they have a leisurely pace. They have known for a long time that it will be hot and are well prepared, he says.
– We monitor the development of the temperature and follow the recommendations we receive from local authorities. We look forward to another nine days of experiences. It’s cool to see the young people meet a lot of people. We hope that it will be really fun and that the young people will have a memory for life – despite the heat, says Fredrik Larsson.