"Emergency Call Ignored Due to Slurred Speech... 80-Year-Old Elderly Person Partially Paralyzed"

Dismissed as prank, false, or mistaken reports
Missed treatment timing makes normal life impossible

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A firefighter who ignored an emergency call from an elderly man in his 80s who had collapsed due to a cerebral infarction, dismissing it because his speech was slurred, has received a 'minor disciplinary action.'

On the 4th, Cheongju Dongbu Fire Station announced that at a disciplinary committee held for Fire Lieutenant A, who was assigned to the former Chungbuk Fire Headquarters 119 Integrated Situation Room, a 'reprimand' was decided. A reprimand is essentially close to a 'warning' and is considered a light disciplinary measure among public official sanctions.

Fire Lieutenant A was transferred from the 119 Integrated Situation Room after mishandling the emergency call by either not responding or misjudging it.

Earlier, around 11 p.m. on September 6, an elderly man in his 80s, Mr. B, collapsed due to a cerebral infarction at a residence in Chungju City. Mr. B called 119 directly twice to request help, but the ambulance did not dispatch.

Mr. B was unable to clearly explain the situation due to slurred speech, one of the representative symptoms of cerebral infarction, and Fire Lieutenant A, who was on duty at the situation room at the time, judged the call as a prank, false, or mistaken report and did not dispatch the ambulance.

During a call lasting about 33 seconds with Fire Lieutenant A, Mr. B, despite his slurred speech, stated the address twice as "Yes, Yeoi XX-dong, Yeohai-e Sibiril-e Sibi (address presumed)" and requested, "Child is dying. Can you come just for a moment?" which was confirmed.

Ultimately, Mr. B was left unattended until 7 a.m. the next day, when he was found by family members and taken to the hospital. However, having missed the treatment window, part of his body became paralyzed, making normal life impossible.

Meanwhile, it is known that the time window for complete treatment after a cerebral infarction is within three hours of onset.