Incheon 119 Calls Ring Every 54 Seconds... Increase in Natural Disaster Reports Due to Typhoon Impact

585,000 Emergency Calls Last Year, 1,603 Daily 119 Reports
Ambulance Calls Account for 75.9%... Peak Between 3 and 4 PM

Incheon Fire Department 119 Integrated Situation Room
Photo by Incheon Fire Department

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] It was revealed that in Incheon last year, a 119 emergency call was made approximately every 54 seconds.

According to the Incheon Fire Headquarters on the 18th, a total of 585,136 calls were received at the 119 comprehensive situation room, averaging 1,603 calls per day, with reports coming in every 54 seconds.

Among the emergency calls for fire, rescue, and ambulance services, there were 200,766 reports. Of these, ambulance calls were the most frequent at 152,371 (75.9%), followed by rescue calls at 29,020 (14.5%), and fire calls at 19,375 (9.7%).

Compared to the previous year, the total number of reports decreased by 9,475 (1.6%), but ambulance calls slightly increased by 2,197 (2%). In particular, natural disaster reports surged significantly to 2,563 cases (an increase of 1,841%) compared to 132 cases the previous year, which was analyzed to be largely due to the increased frequency of typhoons compared to previous years.

By region, Namdong-gu had the highest number of calls at 78,704 (13.5%), and by time of day, the period between 3 and 4 p.m. recorded the most calls at 70,391 (12.2%).

Meanwhile, the Ambulance Situation Management Center, responsible for emergency treatment guidance and hospital/clinic information services, handled 54,205 cases last year (an average of 161 cases per day).

Emergency treatment guidance accounted for the largest portion with 21,844 cases (40.3%), followed by hospital/clinic information at 19,000 cases (35.1%), disease consultation at 6,696 cases (12.4%), medical guidance at 6,411 cases (11.8%), and others at 214 cases (0.4%).

Medical guidance is provided by 19 ambulance guidance doctors who are emergency medicine specialists working at emergency medical centers of general hospitals in the Incheon area. They work in shifts 24 hours a day at the 119 comprehensive situation room to assist paramedics in providing prompt and appropriate emergency treatment at the scene and during patient transport.

Kang Hanseok, head of the 119 comprehensive situation room, stated, "We will closely analyze the approximately 590,000 119 emergency calls each year using big data technology to ensure that citizens can receive faster and more convenient 119 services."