Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Unconscious Patients
Emergency Room Duty, Experience in Rapid Response Center High-Risk Patient Screening and Management
A heartwarming story about a university hospital nurse who saved the life of a patient who lost consciousness and collapsed after deliberately sitting next to a passenger with a pale complexion on a commuter bus has recently come to light.
According to Hanyang University Hospital on the 21st, a story was posted on the hospital’s “Compliments” board about Nurse Lee Jeong-ae from the Rapid Response Team at Hanyang University Hospital performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a man in his 60s who had undergone heart valve surgery and collapsed on the hospital shuttle bus, saving his life.
The author, A, who identified herself as “the daughter of the patient who lost consciousness and collapsed on the shuttle bus,” said that the patient had a medical appointment at Hanyang University Hospital on April 10 and boarded the shuttle bus, on which Nurse Lee was also riding on her way to work.
Noticing that A’s mother looked pale, Nurse Lee deliberately sat next to her. Shortly after, A’s mother lost consciousness and collapsed, and Nurse Lee, who was watching nearby, immediately performed CPR.
The author said, “Her pulse had stopped, and it was a critical situation, but the nurse’s quick response and her hands saved my mother and four other family members’ lives that day,” adding, “Anyone who works knows how tough the morning commute can be, but that small act of care protected five lives and one family.”
The patient had a history of heart valve surgery, and it is known that while running about 100 meters to catch the shuttle bus, the strain on her weak heart caused insufficient blood flow to the cardiovascular system, leading to loss of consciousness and collapse.
A expressed gratitude, saying, “Thanks to the nurse, my mother was discharged safely, and even during her hospital stay, Nurse Lee visited her room and hugged my mother, saying she was grateful to be alive.”
She added, “Was it because it’s her job? Because she’s done it before? Some might think she just did what was expected, but I believe nothing in this world is to be taken for granted,” and said, “The three syllables of Lee Jeong-ae’s name will forever be remembered by our entire family as our lifelong benefactor, and we will live with gratitude.”
Lee Jeong-ae, a veteran nurse with 18 years of experience, reportedly sensed the possibility of an emergency when she saw A’s mother’s poor complexion as she boarded the bus. Nurse Lee said, “Being able to recognize a high-risk patient and quickly provide emergency care was thanks to over 10 years of experience working in the emergency room and my role in the Rapid Response Center, where I screened and managed high-risk patients,” adding, “I will continue to strive to save precious lives whenever there is an emergency patient.”
Earlier in May, Nurse Yu Mi-hyun, who has been working as a nurse for 10 years, saved a passenger who collapsed in the subway by performing CPR. While on her way home, Nurse Yu noticed a citizen who boarded at Jongno 3-ga Station collapse and have convulsions. She asked nearby passengers to call 119 (emergency services) and began CPR. With the help of passengers, she helped the collapsed passenger get off at the next station (Jongno 5-ga Station) and continued emergency treatment, restoring the patient’s pulse and breathing within about 10 minutes.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
