Gyeonggi Fire Department Analyzes Missing Dementia Elderly... Most Dispatches in Spring, Highest Deaths in Winter

A Gyeonggi-do fire department helicopter is rescuing an elderly person with dementia. Photo by Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters

119 dispatches to find missing dementia patients are concentrated in the spring, while fatal accidents mainly occur during the cold winter months.

According to the Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters on the 14th, the number of dispatches related to missing dementia patients in the Gyeonggi area over the past three years totaled 763, with 218 cases in 2020, 253 in 2021, and 292 in 2022.

By month, April recorded the highest number with 75 cases, followed by June with 71 cases, and May with 69 cases. This indicates that dementia-related rescue dispatches are mainly concentrated in the comfortable spring and early summer seasons.

By time of day, the evening (6 PM to midnight) had the highest number of cases at 275, followed by the afternoon (12 PM to 6 PM) with 253 cases, accounting for 69% of all dispatches occurring during the afternoon and evening hours.

The top 10 fire stations for dementia patient missing person dispatches were Yeoju, Namyangju, Yangju, and Gimpo in that order.

Additionally, analysis showed that half of the dementia-related fatal accidents occurred during the winter months (December to February).

Jo Sun-ho, head of the provincial Fire and Disaster Headquarters, stated, "Following the injury accident caused by a missing dementia patient at Gwanggyosan Mountain in Suwon earlier this year, we conducted an analysis of missing cases to improve early detection and survival rates of dementia patients. Since the longer the search time, the higher the probability of injury or death, we will respond with full force by escalating early search stages and requesting support."

Meanwhile, the number of dementia patients aged 65 and older in the province has been increasing annually, with 149,060 in 2018, 159,710 in 2019, and 170,974 in 2020.