Seoul City Establishes Emergency Transport System for Heatwave... Emergency Transport for Heat-Related Patients Until September

Operation of '119 Rescue and Emergency Situation Room' and '119 Mobile Ambulance Team' for Heatwave Preparedness during Heatwave Warnings

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters will implement emergency rescue and ambulance response measures to prepare for the heatwave until September 30.

On the 1st, the headquarters announced that the emergency rescue and ambulance measures for heatwave preparedness are being promoted to protect citizens' safety from the summer heat and to provide fire safety services to disaster-vulnerable groups.

During this period, an emergency transport system for heat-related emergency patients will be established, deploying 163 119 ambulance units, and a reserve dispatch team (pump-ambulance) will be organized and operated to prepare for any dispatch gaps.

Additionally, dedicated personnel will be on standby 24 hours at the Ambulance Situation Management Center to provide emergency medical consultation and first aid guidance before the ambulance arrives on-site when reports of heat-related illnesses occur.

According to the heatwave advisory issuance criteria, when a heatwave watch or heatwave warning is issued, the Fire and Disaster Headquarters and affiliated fire agencies will operate the ‘Heatwave Measures 119 Rescue and Ambulance Situation Room’ and the ‘On-site Heatwave Preparedness 119 Patrol Ambulance Team.’

When a heatwave warning is issued due to the onset of intense heat, a ‘Heatwave 119 Safety Camp’ will be set up in 12 shantytown areas, which are vulnerable residential zones, to provide simple emergency medical services. Also, if social distancing measures related to COVID-19 are eased, a ‘119 Safety Support Call Center’ will be operated to assist severely disabled individuals living alone who are vulnerable to heatwaves.

Furthermore, to respond urgently to incidents such as elevator entrapments caused by power outages due to a surge in electricity usage, four power generator vehicles (two fire department vehicles and two Korea Electric Power Corporation vehicles) will be mobilized.

Choi Tae-young, head of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, “We will thoroughly implement measures in preparation for the added heatwave during the prolonged COVID-19 situation and especially do our best to ensure the safety of disaster-vulnerable groups.”