Six Organizations Collaborate to Realize “A Four Minutes’ Hope”

Six organizations including KOSHA and NEMA promise the promotion of CPR

November 3, 2011

<Case 1>

In April 2000, a professional baseball player of Korea suffered a heart attack during a game. He was transferred to a hospital without the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He had been brain death for 10 years and died in February 2010.

<Case 2>

In February 2008, Senior Manager Young-Tae Kim of KOSHA was playing badminton on a holiday. While he was playing, he witnessed a 43 year-old man (“K”) collapse onto the floor. Mr. Kim called the emergency number (199) and administered CPR on Mr. K. Mr. K had been transferred to an emergency room but was soon stabilized.

Administering CPR within four minutes from the moment a person suffers a heart attack is very crucial. The survival rate of a person who has been administered CPR is three times higher. However, the knowledge level of CPR in Korea is quite low.

In Korea an average of 20,000 persons suffer a heart attack per year, which is more than 50 cases every day. However, only 18% of the victims of heart attack have been administered CPR. (Based on the national awareness survey on emergency medical service, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hankook Research, June 2009).

For this reason, the survival rate of heart attack sufferers in Korea is only 2.5~7%. However, countries that have high awareness on CPR have the survival rate of 15 to 18%. (Korea Association of CPR “Development and distribution of guidelines on CPR, 2011)

※ The American Heart Association emphasizes “the chain of survival” as a means to raise the survival rate of heart attack victims. That is early access, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced cardiac life support.

Against the backdrop, KOSHA, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Korean Red Cross, Korean Association of CPR, Life Insurance and Philanthropy Foundation, and Korean Association for Safety Communities signed an MOU. These six organizations will collaborate to raise the public awareness and public knowledge on CPR.

 <Overview of the MOU>

Date: November 3, 2011 (Thu), 10:30~10:55

Venue: Central Government Complex, Jongro-gu, Seoul

Participants: Representatives from the signing organizations

           NEMA, KOSHA, Korean Red Cross, Life Insurance Philanthropy Foundation, Korean Association for Safety Communities

Under the MOU, NEMA will work to make related laws, regulations, and guidelines. KOSHA on the other hand will conduct related research, and organize seminars. Korean Red Cross will also join the efforts by training professionals, publish training materials and promote CPR training administered on young children.

Furthermore, the six organizations will seek to promote safety culture under the slogan of “Careful, Watchful Korea”. They will launch a nation-wide CRP parade.

The CPR parade is aimed at creating a public awareness and understanding on CPR. It is led by NEMA and region-based activities will take place in locations across Korea. In the case of Seoul region, more than 4,000 persons ranging from students and general public will gather in Jamsil Sports Complex on November 7, where they will be able to learn about the importance of CPR through various events, lectures and exhibits.

“Raising the awareness and understanding on CPR is a part of KOSHA’s core mission, which is to uphold the lives of people in industrial sites. By promoting CPR, I hope safety culture takes a deep root in our lives and workplaces,” said President Baek, Hun-Ki from KOSHA. End.