South Korea

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General

Capital – Seoul

Land Size – 96,920 sq km

Population – 48,636,068

Language(s) – Korean


Prehospital Care


Overview

  • Rapid development of prehospital and emergency medicine in past 2 decades, caused by:
    • Major disasters in 1990s
    • Response to needs of hosting major international sporting events


History

  • Prior to 1988 Seoul Olympic Games
    • Only FD was responsible for fire-fighting and life-saving
    • Private ambulances used for transfers and emergency rescue activities
    • Preparations for Olympics included reorganizing fire stations to provide emergency rescue activities through newly established Special Rescue Service
  • 1990s Disasters (revealed gaps in EMS system)
    • 1994 – Suns-Su Bridge collapse
      • 30 killed; 20 injured
    • 1995 – Sampoong Department Store collapse
      • 500 killed; 900 injured
    • 1995 – Daegu gas explosions
      • 100 killed; 200 injured
  • Resulted in creation of National 119 Rescue Service
    • Local 119 Rescues Services subordinate to National Service
  • 2002- FIFA World Cup (joint-hosting with Japan)
    • National 119 Rescue Service reorganized
    • Linked EMS with hospital EDs
      • Collaborated with national Emergency Physicians’ Association (est. 1996)
    • Reorganization proved successful during World Cup
      • Also proven effective in subsequent Daegu subway fire where response was significant improvement from past disasters


EMS System Model

  • Two-tiered
  • 119 Rescue Services – Prehospital Care
    • Affiliated with 150 local fire stations, nation-wide
    • Fully responsible entire scope of emergency rescue services
      • Rescue Team
        • Nurse
        • EMT-1 & 2 (BLS only)
        • Accredited Specialist
      • Ambulance
  • 1139 Service
    • Emergency Medical Information Center
      • Coordinates communication between ambulances, emergency medical facilities and hospitals
    • Inter-facility transfers
    • Some scene response though “more focused on rapid transfer to a hospital rather than on prehospital care”
  • Ambulance Equipment
    • O2/BVM/Intubation kit
    • MAST/Splints
    • AED/Lab Test Equipment
    • Drugs:
      • Atropine/Epinephrine
      • Lidocaine
      • Analgesics
      • Antihistamine


Lead Agency


Funding


Levels of Care


Education & Training


Medical Direction


Specialty Services


Dispatch


National Emergency Telephone #

  • 119 – National Rescue Service


Emergency Medicine & Emergency Care

  • Public & Private hospital EDs
  • Overcrowding is a problem


Disaster


References


Links

DIEMS Home Page