"From 119 Call to Hospital Transport"... Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Patients with AI and Video Calls

9th Workshop on Improving Emergency Response Quality for Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Survival Rate 2.4 Times Higher When CPR is Performed by Laypersons

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and the National Fire Agency are introducing data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve the survival rates of patients with sudden cardiac arrest. These efforts aim to enhance the quality of the entire emergency response process—from the moment a 119 emergency call is received in the control room, to on-site treatment, and transport to the hospital.

The KDCA and the National Fire Agency announced on May 19 that they will share the latest technology-based response systems and quality management strategies at the 9th Workshop on Improving Emergency Response Quality for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, to be held on May 20 at EXCO in Daegu.

According to statistics from the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survey, there were a total of 33,034 sudden cardiac arrest cases in Korea in 2024, which corresponds to 64.7 cases per 100,000 people. Among these, the 'survival rate'—the proportion of patients who survived—was 9.2%, and the 'neurological recovery rate'—the proportion who recovered to the extent of being able to perform daily activities—was 6.3%. Both figures are the highest recorded since the survey began.

It was found that rapid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders at the scene played a decisive role in these outcomes. The survival rate when CPR was performed by laypersons was 14.4%, which is 2.4 times higher than the 6.1% survival rate when CPR was not performed. This again highlights the importance of swift and accurate initial response starting from the emergency call stage.

The workshop will be attended by about 70 emergency and control room managers from fire headquarters across the country. The agenda includes presentations and discussions on the following topics: the status of sudden cardiac arrest cases in 2024; key emergency medical indicators for sudden cardiac arrest in 2025; major updates to CPR guidelines; the latest technologies for control room-stage CPR response; and the latest technologies in cardiac arrest quality management.

In particular, the workshop will share the latest technology trends such as video call-based CPR guidance, data-driven quality management systems, and strategies to strengthen control room-level response. There will also be practical discussions on the application and potential use of AI-based cardiac arrest response technologies in the field.

National Fire Agency Commissioner Kim Seungryong stated, "To save patients with sudden cardiac arrest, it is essential to respond quickly and accurately at every stage, from the initial emergency call to on-site treatment and hospital transport. We will continue to advance the emergency quality management system using the latest technology and data to secure the golden hour and protect people's lives."

KDCA Commissioner Lim Seungkwan said, "The data accumulated through the sudden cardiac arrest survey provides an important foundation for developing policies and improving response systems aimed at preventing cardiac arrest and increasing patient survival rates. We will continue to provide scientific evidence through stable surveys and strive to improve patient outcomes."

Both agencies plan to continuously analyze the incidence and treatment outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest patients through ongoing cooperation, and to strengthen the 'pre-hospital stage response system' based on the latest technologies. They will actively work together to improve the survival rates of patients with severe emergency conditions.

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