The number of cardiac arrest patients taken to hospitals by paramedics in the first half of this year totaled 13,473. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent study has revealed that roughly 10 percent of cardiac arrest patients who were taken to the hospital by ambulance turned out to have had their heart function restored thanks to the intervention of paramedics.
The number of cardiac arrest patients taken to hospitals by paramedics in the first half of this year totaled 13,473.
Among them, 10.73 percent or 1,446 had spontaneous circulation re-established before arriving at the hospital thanks to treatment from paramedics, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said on Tuesday.
The ratio of those who achieved the recovery of spontaneous circulation before arriving at hospitals rose by 0.24 percentage points compared to 10.49 percent one year ago.
By month, the ratio of spontaneous circulation recovery stood at 9.8 percent and 9.9 percent, respectively, in March and April when only a minimal number of rescue workers were mobilized due to the spread of the coronavirus.
These figures were lower than the first-half average.
“Given that the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients falls below 10 percent after four minutes of cardiac arrest, the intervention of paramedics who arrive at the scene earlier than others is very important,” the NFA emphasized.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
