Golden Hour of Life Extended by Air
Key Site Inspection of the 119Heli-EMS Project
Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital Proves Its Role as the Emergency Medical Hub of Northern Gyeonggi
Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital (Hospital Director Han Chang-hee) announced on the 17th that on the 16th, Heo Seok-gon, Commissioner of the National Fire Agency, visited the Regional Trauma Center and Regional Emergency Medical Center at Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, a symbolic hub of the '119Heli-EMS' project, which is dramatically improving the survival rate of severe trauma patients.
Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon is taking a commemorative photo after visiting the Regional Trauma Center and Regional Emergency Medical Center at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University, a symbolic hub of the '119Heli-EMS' project that is dramatically improving the survival rate of severe trauma patients on the 16th. Photo by Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital
This visit was an official schedule for the National Fire Agency to directly inspect the on-site operation system of the nationwide 'Doctor-Boarding Helicopter Transport System (119Heli-EMS)' and to express its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the medical community. It was an occasion to reaffirm the importance of the public-private severe emergency patient response system centered on the hospital.
On that day, Commissioner Heo Seok-gon visited Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital along with the Fire Agency’s Ambulance Division Chief, Northern Gyeonggi Disaster Response Division Chief, and Uijeongbu Fire Station Chief. They had a conversation with hospital officials including Executive Vice President Father Woo Yeon-ho Leo, Regional Trauma Center Director Cho Hang-joo, Regional Emergency Medical Center Director Choi Se-min, and External Medical Cooperation Team Leader Kim Young-joong. They also exchanged Easter eggs and commemorative gifts prepared to celebrate Easter, sharing warm solidarity.
During the main schedule, a presentation on the operational achievements and future development directions of 119Heli-EMS was held in the trauma center conference room. They toured the frontline of life rescue, including the 13th-floor helipad, T-bay, and emergency triage area, attentively listening to explanations from medical staff and inspecting the on-site situation.
Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital is the only institution in Northern Gyeonggi to operate 119Heli-EMS regularly. In 2024 alone, it has contributed significantly to improving the survival rate of severe emergency patients by saving 23 lives through 27 helicopter dispatches, achieving a survival rate of over 85%.
Commissioner Heo Seok-gon said, "Today, I once again realized the value of the golden time created together by medical staff and firefighters." He added, "We will continue to strengthen the nationwide severe patient transport system centered on leading cooperative hospitals like Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital."
Hospital Director Han Chang-hee said, "The visit of the Fire Agency Commissioner is a symbolic occasion that once again proves that Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital is the center of the emergency medical system in Northern Gyeonggi." He added, "Through the extension of life via air routes, fire services and medical care will unite to firmly strengthen the community safety net."
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