• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2021

Purpose: We aimed to provide effective emergency medical services (EMS) response strategies for coping with high acuity patients during the pandemic by analyzing the influence of the COVID-19 and social distancing on EMS. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the distribution of high acuity patients transported by Daejeon 1-1-9 EMS during the COVID-19 pandemic period, between February 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020 and the same period in 2019, as well as the level 3 social distancing enforced period, between July 27, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Results: The EMS dispatches decreased by 17% during the observed COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the same period in 2019. The number of cases with cardiac arrest and positive prehospital stroke scale rose by (p<.001). Patients with cardiac arrest, trauma, and positive prehospital stroke scale increased by during the level 3 social distancing period. Conclusion: Unlike the decreased EMS call volume and patient transports during the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac arrest cases and the severity of high acuity patients tended to increase. We suggest that EMS systems should contrive a response strategy considering the collateral effect of major epidemics on the incidence rate of high acuity patients.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the necessity of administrative compensation insurance and claims cases during the emergency medical service process among administrative compensation insurance cases and suggests problems and improvement measures. Methods: We compared the details of administrative compensation insurance claims of 15 cities and provinces, excluding Seoul and Kwangju, from 2017 to 2020 by requesting details disclosure of the comprehensive deduction for administrative compensation in 17 cities and provinces across the country. Results: A total of 69 cases were compensated through the administrative comprehensive compensation deductions. There were 53 cases of damage that occurred at the field stage, 14 cases at the transfer and hospital stage, and two other cases. Conclusion: The 119 paramedics, which are the perpetrators, should be active in field activities and free from the psychological pressure caused by increased workload and litigation. Active compensation administration is required for damage cases occurring in the firefighting activities context.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.60
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• pp.7-17
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• 2005

On this paper, the actual conditions of home accidents by investigating rescue and emergency reports at fire stations in Gwangju Metropolitan city and annual report on the cause of death statistics in the National Statistical Office were analyzed, and actual conditions about home accidents in developed countries were studied. As a result, the following matters were confirmed: 1) Infants and older adults are the main victims of home accidents, especially the older adults. 2) The more older adults we have in our society, the more deaths caused by home accidents take place. 3) We must study the home accident of our society in the level of developed countries. And we must have the prevention policy about the home accidents.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.108-118
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• 2011

In this study, strengths related with fire investigation of fire stations are analyzed and methods for the capacity building of their fire cause investigation are suggested. The methods for capacity building of fire cause investigation suggested are focused on using potential and strengths of current fire fighting and enhancing internal capacity rather than reinforcing investigation personnel, organization, and equipment and ensuring investigation power. The methods suggested in this study are as follows. 1) Because fire investigation results are the basis of fire administration, fire marshals should change their awareness of the need of fire investigation; 2) A fire investigation system should be established to ensure statements of people concerned systematically; 3) A substantial system of fire cause investigation should be established to investigate fire scenes more than twice; 4) A substantial system of fire cause investigation should be established to use such materials as CCTV; 5) Extinguishing should be made in consideration of fire cause investigation and a scene preservation system after extinguishing should be established; 6) A fire investigation system should be established in connection with 119 first-aid and rescue teams and 7) Steps to raise the morale of fire investigation staff should be taken.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.14-20
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• 2012

This study analyzes the influencing factors of prehospital 119 Emergency Medical Service for Stroke Patients in prehospital. From July, 2010 to June, 2011, 123 patients were diagnosed with Stroke in Emergency Medical Center. Among 123 patients, the prehospital assessment rates were as follows : blood pressure checked 73.2 %, pulse checked 73.2 %, respiratory checked 64.2 %, $SpO_2$ checked 79.7 %, pupil reflex test 88.6 %, Electrocardiogram checked 14.6 %, blood sugar checked 19.5 %. Prehospital emergency medical care, Oropharyngeal airway insertion 2.4 %, Manual airway maneuvers 17.1 %, endotracheal intubation 2.7 %, oxygen supply 35.4 %, and suction and intravenous fluid therapy 0 %. The property of mental status evaluation by 119 Emergency Medical Service was nearly perfect, but the patients assessment and emergency medical care were not.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.179-187
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• 2019

This study performed a survey on the need for an automobile accident-simulation training program for 60 emergency workers and nine emergency medical professors. The results showed that the need for cervical spine immobilization use was highest (76.8%) in first-aid requiring simulation training, and the need for head injury was highest (75.4%) in the scenario requiring simulation training. Based on the 43-month working experience of emergency workers, the uses of pneumatic anti-shock garment, KED, and the need for rapid extrication were significantly different between the two groups (p=0.01, p=0.05). In addition, the scenario showed statistically significant differences in the need for face, abdomen, and other injuries in both group (p=0.05, p=0.04, p=0.03). The needs of emergency workers and emergency medical professors for an automobile accident simulation-training program were high, and the development of a simulation program is needed.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.6 no.10
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• pp.77-94
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• 2000

The purpose of this thesis is to lay groundwork for the development of emergency care system in metropolitan area. It compares the performance and outcome of the current system with foreign counterparts and investigates the changing aspects of future medical environment. Emergency medical system can be divided into two parts of both pre-hospital care, which refers to the emergency measures taken before arriving at a hospital, and hospital care that is given within a hospital. Pre-hospital care includes on-the-spot expedients, information system and delivery system, whereas hospital care is related to the classification and specialization of medical care facilities. This research focuses on the evaluation of the performance of a rescue party, which is part of pre-historical care system. As a result, it provides valuable material for the development of the emergency medical system in Seoul.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.332-340
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to present a method for the application of drones through analysis after surveying Jeollanam-do firefighters regarding the recognition, operation, field of application, necessary field of work, and the need for education on fire drones. As a result of the survey, 80.29% of respondents were found to be willing to operate drones, and the fields of work for which drones were considered the most necessary were in the order of rescue, fire suppression, life safety, first aid, and others. Besides, 77.38% of respondents thought that drones could contribute to the prevention of safety accidents for firefighters, and 70.13% of respondents thought that it would be appropriate to recruit firefighting drone operators through changing positions, and respondents chose firefighters in their 40s as the most suitable age group for firefighting drone operation. Also, 82.84% of respondents said they would participate in drone training, and they recognized that the use of drones could contribute to solving the physical problems caused by the aging of firefighters, and that drone training would also help firefighters manage their retirement. The fields where firefighting drones are used were investigated in the order of searching for requestors, checking on-site information, and checking on-site prior risk. In this study, a difference analysis for each group was performed according to the drone operation experience. There was a statistically significant difference in the items of safety measures for requestors. The results of variance analysis by work experience confirmed that there were statistically significant differences in a total of eight items, including four items related to the field of use of drones, and the age group of the drone operating crew, and whether or not to help retirement management.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.20 no.2 s.62
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• pp.31-43
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• 2006

In Korea, the Emergency Medical Service, EMS is provided by Fire Services with 119 EMS and all the public uses the service for free. Although it appears very successful and is respected nationally, structural problem EMS exist and are worsening. First of all, the "free riding effect" becomes increasingly problematic. Some argue that 30% of the demands is not urgent or emergent. The total number of demands is increasing even without the free riding effect. The Current EMS system itself cannot meet the increasing EMS demand. The medical aspect is so poor that the EMS cannot dispatch a medical specialist to the scene. The cardiac arrest resuscitation rate is only $1.24{\sim}9.9%$, compared to 40% in Boston, MA, USA. But due to the regulations and limitations of the Fire Service organization, it is difficult to secure enough EMS resources. To work out these problems, it needs a structural innovation. To secure enough resources and achieve higher medical performance we should invite the medical sector and the private sector into EMS arena by contracting partnerships with Fire Services and charging a reasonable EMS fee. We found through statistical test that any partnership system is more effective than fire-alone system and most countries around the world have partnership system rather than fire-alone system.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.106-118
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to realize volunteer fire departments' historical identity through a review of the transition process from the quickening period of volunteer fire departments to the enactment of the volunteer fire department act in 2014, establish it newly from the viewpoint of changing the basic theoretical concepts, and seek a development plan. For this, the technical approach method was used based on the research method of literature searches. The result of the study established the definition as 'volunteer fire departments are legal auxiliary organizations composed by local residents who volunteer and understand one another with their independent and voluntary will to prepare for all kinds of disasters as well as fire suppression, rescue, and first aid.' and the installation ideology as 'leading service organizations of safety as a form of community involvement', 'resident-friendly organizational activities based on autonomous operational operation' and 'the activities of supplementing their demands according to the realization of social welfare and regional conditions'. Regarding the characteristics, the basic theoretical concept was newly established by 'voluntary participation', 'social expandability', 'the realization and complementation of social welfare', and 'professionalism and possibilities'. In addition it is expected that the results of this study can be utilized as the basic materials in studies of volunteer fire departments in the future.