119 Saves Lives of Cardiac Arrest Patients Using 'Yeongsang Medical Map'

After Video Medical Guidance, Ambulance Arrival and Consciousness Recovery

A man in his 40s in cardiac arrest was saved thanks to the prompt video medical guidance provided by a 119 call operator.

According to the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters on the 5th, on February 20th at around 6:25 p.m., a man in his 40s suddenly collapsed after having a seizure in the swimming pool at a cultural center. A staff member who witnessed the incident administered first aid and called 119.

At that time, Jeong Hye-yeon, a fire lieutenant affiliated with the Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center who was handling the call reception, is a skilled paramedic with a Level 1 emergency medical technician qualification. Recognizing the patient was in a critical cardiac arrest state, she immediately switched to video medical guidance and instructed the caller on patient assessment and chest compression emergency treatment.

Fortunately, the patient’s heartbeat was restored on-site thanks to the prompt professional emergency treatment and use of an automated external defibrillator by the paramedics who arrived shortly after. The patient’s breathing and consciousness soon returned, and he was transported to the hospital in a condition improved enough to communicate.

A representative from the Seoul Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Center explained the situation, saying, “There are cases where cardiac arrest patients are initially mistaken for having seizures. Thanks to the quick judgment of the emergency call operator, we were able to save a precious life through video medical guidance together with the emergency medical doctor.”

Meanwhile, the emergency situation management centers of fire headquarters nationwide handle about 1.82 million consultations and guidance services annually, including emergency treatment guidance and disease counseling. In particular, for severe emergencies such as cardiac arrest and airway obstruction, video calls via smartphones are connected to provide medical guidance.

Kim Tae-han, head of the 119 Emergency Medical Service Division at the National Fire Agency, stated, “Going forward, we will actively work to improve the survival rate of critically ill emergency patients and protect the lives of the public by expanding smartphone-based consultation and guidance not only for cardiac arrest patients but also for stroke patients.”