The number of medical emergency calls involving accidents with infants and toddlers aged 0 to 6 has been increasing annually. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SUWON, Apr. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Despite declining birth rates in South Korea, the number of medical emergency calls involving accidents with infants and toddlers aged 0 to 6 has been increasing annually, according to data from fire authorities.
The Gyeonggi Province Fire and Disaster Headquarters reported that incidents requiring paramedic dispatches for young children in the region numbered 4,504 in 2021, 5,295 in 2022, and 5,695 last year, showing a steady upward trend over the past three years.
Of the total 15,494 cases during this period, falls accounted for the largest share at 8,681 instances (56.1 percent), followed by collisions at 3,334 (21.5 percent), ingestion of foreign objects at 1,655 (10.7 percent), burns at 1,101 (7.1 percent), and entrapment of limbs at 243 (1.7 percent).
The highest incidence was among 1-year-olds at 3,670 cases (23.7 percent), with a gradual decline as ages increased.
In response, Gyeonggi fire authorities have set a goal of reducing infant and toddler accidents by 5 percent by 2028 and are implementing various countermeasures.
Plans include launching a website with regularly updated safety information, statistics, and case studies to raise awareness among guardians. The fire service also intends to expand safety education programs through its metaverse-based 119 Safety Experience Center, covering fire response, emergency care, and earthquake preparedness tailored for young children. Customized programs based on life stages will also increase at the Gyeonggi Province National Safety Experience Center.
Additionally, private instructors will visit at least 5 percent, or 555 locations, of the over 11,000 childcare facilities in the province to provide on-site safety training. In June, the fire authorities will host an academic seminar inviting professors and relevant experts to discuss strategies for reducing accidents involving infants and toddlers.
“Guardians need to exercise caution, such as removing objects that children can climb onto from balconies and never leaving them unattended in bathtubs, even with shallow water levels,” stressed Cho Seon-ho, head of the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters. “Please adhere strictly to safety guidelines to protect our children.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
