Jeju Fire Department Prepares Measures to Reduce False 119 Emergency Calls and Non-Emergency Cases

Published 02 May.2023 10:13(KST)

The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters (Chief Kim Su-hwan) announced on the 2nd that it will establish measures to reduce false reports and non-emergency (habitual users) patients so that the 119 ambulance team can achieve its primary goal of securing the golden time for emergency patients.

This is a measure to address the waste of firefighting resources caused by false reports and the transport of non-emergency patients, which goes against the purpose of operating the 119 ambulance team, as well as cases where actual emergency patients miss the golden time.

Emergency photo [Photo by Jeju Fire Department]

Moreover, due to the ongoing saturation of emergency rooms in the province caused by the aftermath of COVID-19, a significant amount of time is being spent handing over patients to the ambulance team, making it urgent to prepare countermeasures related to the transport of non-emergency patients.

According to the Act on Rescue and Ambulance Services, if the patient is non-emergency, the ambulance team may not be dispatched, and requests for ambulance dispatch can be refused.

Also, those who falsely report an ambulance situation may be fined up to 5 million won.

The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters will strictly apply the law and impose fines in cases where false reports are clear, and will strengthen publicity regarding punishment regulations and the request to refrain from using ambulance services for non-emergency patients.

Reporters themselves also need to cooperate appropriately by visiting hospitals on their own or receiving medical consultations from ambulance situation managers or supervising doctors working in the control room if the situation is not truly urgent.

Chief Kim Su-hwan said, “The core of this measure is to ensure that the 119 ambulance team achieves its primary goal of quickly transporting truly emergency patients,” and added, “If the smooth operation of the 119 ambulance team is guaranteed, I believe this will directly benefit the residents of the province.”