Motorcycle Paramedics

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When it comes to saving a life in a medical emergency, time is of the essence. Paramedics riding motorcycles are now saving precious lives, as they can reach people who need their help quickly by cutting through traffic jams. Let's take a look.

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A team of paramedics on motorcycles speeds between cars on a congested road. It takes just two minutes for them to arrive on site. They perform CPR and transport the patient to a hospital with their colleagues who arrived later.

[Soundbite] Oh Young-hwan(Seoul Seongbuk Fire Station) : "Both of the two ambulances had already been dispatched. After arriving first, we helped the caller compress the chest more effectively while analyzing the electrocardiogram with a portable defibrillator."

Motorcycle paramedic teams were introduced to reach emergency patients as quickly as possible, without being blocked by traffic congestion. Equipped with nine first aid devices including a portable automated external defibrillator, the motorcycle teams can immediately provide emergency treatment.

[Soundbite] Rep. Hong Cheol-ho(Public Administration Committee) : "It is necessary to actively appropriate a budget and personnel to operate more motorcycle paramedic teams in order to support emergency rescue operations hampered by traffic congestion."

Motorcycle paramedic teams have proven to be so effective that they were mobilized for approximately 6,900 cases last year. However, not a single team is operated in regions outside of Seoul due to obstacles such as a lack of personnel.