'Brain Damage in Just 4 Minutes'... 70-Year-Old Collapses Picking Up Trash, Saved by Their Team Effort

Quick Response by Bystander and Yeongwol Fire Station Paramedics
News of Returning to Normal Work Without Aftereffects Following the Holiday

News has emerged late about a 70-year-old public worker who collapsed while picking up trash but was saved thanks to the quick response of nearby pedestrians and paramedics.

Gangwon Fire Department performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
[Photo by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters]

According to the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Fire Headquarters on the 11th, on the 19th of last month, Kwon (77), who was working as a public worker on the sidewalk in front of a store in Yeongwol-eup, Yeongwol-gun, suddenly collapsed.

Upon receiving the report, Fire Sergeant Yoon Hee and Firefighters Lee Mina and Choi Youngjae from Yeongwol Fire Station rushed to the scene and witnessed nearby citizens performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Kwon. At that time, Kwon was unconscious, breathing heavily, with a very weak and rapid pulse.

Citizen A said, "Seeing a patient gasping for breath and convulsing right before my eyes, my body reacted instinctively first," adding, "There was no time to think about anything else."

Then, as Sergeant Yoon and others checked the patient's condition and tried to supply oxygen for the electrocardiogram monitor, Kwon's body stiffened and severe convulsions occurred. Suddenly, his pulse disappeared, and he entered a state of cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.

It was ventricular fibrillation, where the heart beats irregularly and cannot contract properly to circulate blood throughout the body. The responders performed CPR and administered two electric shocks using an automated external defibrillator.

Following medical guidance from a doctor, the responders secured the airway and supplied oxygen, deciding it was best to transport Kwon to a nearby hospital for treatment. Thanks to the emergency care from citizens and paramedics in the ambulance, Kwon miraculously regained his pulse and breathing.

With everyone's help, Kwon reportedly recovered his health without brain damage or aftereffects. He returned to work normally after the Chuseok holiday.

The Gangwon Fire Department emphasized, "Brain damage that cannot be reversed occurs four minutes after cardiac arrest, so CPR by the first witness is the most important."

Sergeant Yoon said, "Thanks to the training I received regularly, I was able to respond reflexively even in an urgent situation," and added, "I am relieved that the patient recovered his health."

Shim Gyusam, head of the provincial rescue and emergency department, urged, "Emergency treatment is crucial until arrival at the hospital when an emergency patient occurs. Please be sure to call 119 and participate in CPR according to the guidance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.