119 Video Call Saves Man in Cardiac Arrest... Her Composure Saved a Life

Choi Jinju of Chungnam Fire Headquarters Provides Real-Time CPR and AED Guidance
Patient Recovers on Site and Safely at Hospital

Firefighter Jinju Choi of the Chungnam Fire Headquarters, who saved a man who collapsed due to cardiac arrest, received a commendation from the Governor of Chungnam Province along with a two-day reward leave. Photo by Chungnam Provincial Office

'A Man Whose Breathing Had Stopped: A Single Video Call Created a Miracle'

At 3:29 p.m. on June 27, a man in his 70s, referred to as Mr. A, suddenly collapsed due to cardiac arrest on Nokdo Island in Boryeong, Chungnam Province.

An urgent emergency call was received by 119, and it was Jinju Choi, a firefighter at the Chungnam Fire Headquarters 119 General Situation Room, who confirmed Mr. A's critical condition over the phone.

Through a video call, Firefighter Choi calmly and accurately instructed the caller on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Thanks to these instructions, Mr. A regained his pulse and breathing at the scene, even before the paramedics arrived.

However, Mr. A's condition remained critical. In response, Firefighter Choi immediately located a hospital capable of providing treatment and personally requested helicopter transport, taking the lead in overseeing the entire process of rescue and transfer.

As a result, Mr. A received emergency treatment at the hospital and is currently recovering. His family expressed deep gratitude, calling Firefighter Choi a "lifesaver."

On July 22, the Chungnam Fire Headquarters presented Firefighter Choi with a commendation from the Governor of Chungnam Province and a two-day reward leave at the 119 General Situation Room.

The 119 Emergency Situation Management Team, to which Firefighter Choi belongs, is dedicated to protecting the lives of Chungnam residents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by providing emergency medical consultations and treatment guidance. They also offer real-time responses tailored to each patient's condition before the arrival of paramedics, using video, voice, and text communication.

Seong Hoseon, Head of the Chungnam Fire Headquarters, stated, "There can never be any hesitation when it comes to protecting the lives of our residents," and added, "Chungnam Fire Headquarters will continue to fulfill its mission as a trusted disaster response agency."

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