Citizen with nails and scalp damaged by 'Prescription Drug Shock' saved by police

Police Perform Heimlich Maneuver on Collapsed Man and Transport Him
"Breathing Difficulty After Taking Prescription Medication... Grateful to Police"
Sergeant Lee Juseong "Proud to Have Saved a Life"

Neunggok Police officers treated a citizen in shock using the Heimlich maneuver. [Source=Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency]

A man who nearly lost his life due to shock after taking prescription medication was saved thanks to the prompt response of the police.

According to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency on the 30th, around 7 p.m. on the 27th of last month, a vehicle belonging to a man in his 50s, Mr. A, entered the parking lot of Neunggok Police Substation under Siheung Police Station. After getting out of the car, Mr. A showed abnormal symptoms, leaning against the vehicle and sitting down while holding a medicine packet in his hand. After opening the substation’s front gate and entering, he immediately collapsed. Responding quickly, Detective Lee Joo-sung (43) and Sergeant Jang Kyung-joo (33) checked Mr. A’s condition, suspected drug overdose, and immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver. The Heimlich maneuver is an emergency procedure used when the airway is blocked by a foreign object.

Soon, Mr. A vomited, his airway cleared, and he briefly regained consciousness. However, judging the situation too critical to wait for the 119 rescue team, they placed Mr. A in the patrol car and transported him directly to the hospital. Mr. A’s airway became blocked again, and he lost consciousness. The two officers stopped the car and performed the Heimlich maneuver once more, causing him to vomit again. Upon arrival at the hospital, Mr. A safely recovered through emergency treatment.

It was understood that Mr. A had experienced breathing difficulties after taking prescribed medication and immediately called 119, but was informed that the dispatch would take 20 minutes, so he sought help at the nearby Neunggok Police Substation. Mr. A said, "I thought there would be no problem since I had taken the same antibiotic before, but within five minutes, I went into shock so severe that my fingernails and scalp started peeling." He added, "The hospital said if I had been ten minutes later, I might have died. I am very grateful to the police who did their best to treat me and worked hard."

Detective Lee said, "When I heard Mr. A clutching his throat saying he couldn’t breathe, I remembered the Heimlich maneuver I recently learned. My body reacted instinctively." He added, "I feel proud knowing I saved a citizen’s precious life."