Calling for Help: Donghae's 'Help Me' Feature Triggers Emergency Assistance | Be Korea-savvy

Calling for Help: Donghae’s ‘Help Me’ Feature Triggers Emergency Assistance


Donghae City Hall (Image courtesy of Donghae City)

Donghae City Hall (Image courtesy of Donghae City)

DONGHAE, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The city of Donghae has recently announced the expansion of eligibility criteria for its ‘Emergency Safety and Security Service,’ which features a voice recognition system that promptly dials 119 when users call out “help me.”

Initially tailored exclusively for the elderly and disabled, the service will now be extended to cover elderly couples and households with grandparents in its third phase. The city is proactively identifying individuals who may benefit from the service.

The latest addition to the emergency safety equipment is a voice recognition feature that rapidly contacts emergency services when the phrase “help me” is uttered. Additionally, there is an artificial intelligence-based care call service that automatically reaches out to individuals who show no signs of activity. 

For those interested in utilizing the service, there are multiple avenues for application. Residents can visit either the Donghae Administrative Welfare Center or the Donghae U-care Center in person, or they can choose to apply via telephone, either independently or through a representative.

The initiative relies on information and communications technology (ICT) emergency response equipment installed in homes. It covers various emergency scenarios such as fire, falls, and illnesses, automatically alerting 119 when no activity is detected.

Since 2021, the city of Donghae, in collaboration with the Donghae U-care Center under the leadership of Director Yang Dong-ho, has offered the service to a total of 2,212 households.

During the period from January to the end of August, there were 239 emergency cases reported, including 1,306 instances of suspected falls and cases of individuals found deceased due to inactivity, all effectively managed by the emergency response personnel.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)

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