National Fire Agency Research Articles

Effects of implementing mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices on out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients in Taiwan

AbstractBackgroundOut‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (M‐CPR) devices were successively introduced in Taiwan to enhance the quality and efficiency of OHCA resuscitation. This study investigated the impact of the introduced M‐CPR devices on OHCA resuscitation outcomes and assessed potential disparities between six special municipalities and other counties and cities.MethodsThis study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (number: 113116‐F). Data from the National Fire Agency of the Ministry of the Interior between 2009 and 2021 were analyzed for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) rate, discharge rate, and ROSC to hospital discharge. Linear regression evaluated changes before and after 2017 while pooled t‐tests compared the two datasets. Chi‐squared analysis and repeated measure Analysis of Variance assessed potential disparities between the six special municipalities and other counties/cities from 2018 to 2021.ResultsPost‐2017 data displayed significantly improved ROSC and discharge rates with positive trends in linear regression analysis. Pooled t‐tests revealed statistically significant differences in 2017 and 2021 ROSC and discharge rates (p < 0.05) while not between ROSC and hospital discharge (p = 0.117). Additionally, six special municipalities exhibited higher ROSC and discharge rates. While M‐CPR devices enhance resuscitation quality, overall recovery depends on multiple factors that need to be addressed comprehensively to optimize patient outcomes.ConclusionThis study showed that the introduction of mechanical CPRs has been successful in improving the ROSC and discharge rates of OHCA patients in Taiwan, while confounding factors are essential for optimizing patient outcomes and improving ROSC rates following cardiac arrest.

A Study on the Operation Characteristics of Arc Fault Detection Device under Arc Generation

According to the National Fire Agency's statistics in South Korea, the number of fires caused by electrical factors is increasing every year. Residual current devices and molded case circuit breakers are used to prevent electrical fires, but it is difficult to prevent electrical fires caused by arc generation. To prevent electrical fires caused by arc generation, studies on arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) and product development for commercial purposes are being conducted. However, the performance of AFDDs under real-life conditions has not been sufficiently verified. In this study, we conducted experiments on three types of AFDDs to verify their performance when a series arc is generated. Moreover, we performed arc waveform measurement and analysis. For the series arc test, we used a series arc generator based on the KS C IEC 62606 standard. We conducted arc-breaking experiments of the AFDDs with resistive and inductive loads and performed waveform measurement and analysis of the arc voltage and current.

Analysis of Wildfire-Damaged Buildings Using Spatial Information: The Case of the 2023 Gangneung Wildfire

In Korea, several policies and previous studies have focused on forest fire prevention; however, research on the characteristics of building damage caused by wildfires is insufficient. This study investigated a large wildfire that occurred in Gangneung on April 11, 2023, and analyzed the characteristics of the damaged buildings. Furthermore, several discussion points related to building damage due to wildfires are presented through a comparison with previous research. First, because piecemeal measures have limitations in reducing damage to buildings, comprehensive and organic measures are needed, such as supplementing building regulations, managing the surrounding environment, installing damage-reduction facilities, and securing access to firefighting services. Second, although vulnerable infrastructure (fire stations, roads, etc.) must be expanded, additional research is needed focusing on actual cases. Third, because cooperation between various agencies and organizations such as the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency is important in responding to wildfires, systematic improvements are required to make quick and accurate decisions.

소방특별사법경찰의 수사에 관한 직무집행능력 향상 방안연구

This study focuses on fire special judicial police and measures to improve their ability to carry out their duties regarding investigations by securing expertise as the subject of investigation of violators of fire laws and regulations in the area of fire administration, improving the hiring system, establishing a unified investigation-only organization, and strengthening the education and training system. The purpose is to present. The research method was an exploratory analysis of related previous research papers, statistical yearbooks such as the National Fire Agency, operation cases in foreign countries such as the United States, various government reports, homepages of Korean government ministries, and media reports. As a result of the analysis, there are only a very small number of personnel dedicated to investigative work, most of them hold other positions concurrently, the investigative position does not have a division-level structure, so independence is not secured, there is no public recruitment or special recruitment system for fire chiefs or lower to perform front-line investigative work, and no training for job training. Course opening was also insufficient. In conclusion, avoid the new investigative field recruitment or special recruitment system and rotational personnel system, designate the fire and special judicial police duties as a specialized field, ensure job continuity, establish a unified organization, develop a job training course, and complete at least 6 months of professional training. The introduction of an education system should be implemented quickly.

Improvement of Personnel, Education and Working Environments via Surveying the Status of Personnel in 119 Emergency Operation Centers

Excluding the Sejong Fire Department Headquarters, visitations to 119 emergency operations centers in 17 cities and provinces across the country were conducted as of 2022 to assess the improvements in personnel arrangements, scope of work, and status of education and training after the placement of situation rooms. On-site visitations were conducted to 119 emergency operation centers in Seoul and 119 emergency operation centers in Busan. Interviews with security personnel participating in the study, such as emergency operation center managers and team leaders, were conducted at the 119 functional emergency operation centers. The status of the deployment, personnel matters, education and training in the operations center, and working conditions were assessed. The following improvements were suggested: The 119 emergency operation centers must be designated as heavy duty departments, provide personnel with the same or higher points as other departments, and provide training and comprehensive evaluation using common practice and simulations on the 119 Emergency Management Standard Response Manual of the National Fire Agency. In addition, working conditions, such as additional personnel points related to promotions, resolution of malicious complaints, difficulty adapting to sleep patterns, the need for psychological treatment, and lack of manpower, must be improved. The results suggest the benefits of operating 112 police emergency operation centers must be introduced.

Dual-dispatch protocols and return of spontaneous circulation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a nationwide observational study.

The Korean National Fire Agency conducted a pilot project examining Advanced Life Support (ALS) protocols, including epinephrine administration, to improve survival among patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the Korean National Fire Agency ALS protocol on prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with OHCA. This study included patients with adult-presumed cardiac arrest between January and December 2020. The main factor of interest was ambulance type according to ALS protocol, which was divided into dedicated ALS ambulance (DA), smartphone-based ALS ambulance (SALS), and non-DA, and the main analysis factor was prehospital ROSC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. During the study period, a total of 18,031 adult patients with OHCA was treated by the emergency medical services, including 7,520 DAs (41.71%), 2,622 SALSs (14.54%), and 7,889 non-DAs (43.75%). The prehospital ROSC ratio was 13.19% for DA, 11.17% for SALS, and 7.91% for non-DA (P<0.01). Compared with that of the DA group, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for prehospital ROSC ratio were 0.97 (0.82-1.15) in the SALS group and 0.57 (0.50-0.65) in the non-DA group. The prehospital ROSC ratio of the DA group was higher than those of the non-DA group and the SALS group. ALS protocol intervention was associated with prehospital ROSC rates. Therefore, continuous efforts to promote systemic implementation of the ALS protocol to improve OHCA outcomes are necessary.

Survey and Investigation of Usage Status According to the Installation of Underground Fire Extinguisher Boxes in Korea’s Traditional Markets

Currently, traditional markets are structurally vulnerable to fire because of the dense concentration of old wooden buildings with tangled wires, such as aging facilities. Particularly in traditional markets, street vendors are usually disorderly located, and nearby roads are crowded due to illegal parking and vehicles stopping on the driveway. When a fire breaks out, it is difficult for the fire truck to enter, which is necessary to extinguish the fire in the early stages and prevent it from expanding into a large fire. With modernization, the number of fires is on the decline; however, fires in traditional markets continue to increase. According to the analysis of fire statistics from January to November 2023, 49 out of 819 fires in sales facilities were in traditional markets, accounting for 5.98% of fires in sales facilities. This is an increase of about 18 cases and an increase of 2.8% compared to fire statistics of about 3.19%, or 31 out of 972 fires at sales facilities as of 2017. Through these statistics, we can observe that the number of fires in sales facilities has decreased; however, the number of fires in traditional markets has increased. Traditional markets are at high risk of accidents due to the poor management of aging facilities and the lack of safety awareness among merchants. Specifically, in the event of a fire, which is likely to develop into a large fire in a short period due to structural problems, construction of high-density shopping malls, and mass loading of highly flammable goods, raising concerns about safety issues. As these problems have continued, the National Fire Agency has developed an emergency fire extinguisher box that could be buried underground in districts requiring fire prevention reinforcement, such as traditional markets and dosshouses. On January 20, 2018, and on May 2, 2018, ten units were first installed in the Seoul area. In this study, we conducted a survey on the current status of underground fire extinguishing systems boxed in traditional markets to identify the merchants' perceptions and analyze the operation of underground fire extinguishing systems boxed in the market.

Effect of Insect Repellent Bomb on Unwanted Fire

A fire detection and alarm system triggered by any element other than fire, such as smoke or a foreign object, is referred to as an unwanted fire alarm. According to the data from the National Fire Agency, as of 2021, the ratio of the number of unwanted-fire dispatches to the total number of 119 dispatches is 17.2%, and the ratio of the number of malfunctions to the number of dispatches triggered by fire detection and alarm systems has remained above 99% for 10 years, resulting in a loss of firefighting resources. In this study, we conducted unwanted fire alarm experiments using insect repellent bombs and implemented the detector and smoke experiments into a three-dimensional numerical analysis to verify the usefulness of the analysis. The smoke concentration at detector points P1 to P3 reached 15%/m in both experiments and numerical simulations, confirming the similarity. For points P4 to P6, the analysis showed that the time at which the smoke concentration started to increase and the time at which it reached its peak were similar in both experiments and numerical simulations. For P7 to P8, the smoke concentration did not reach 15%/m in both experiments and numerical simulations, indicating that the results were similar. The findings of this study suggest that numerical analysis can be used to implement the flow characteristics of domestic smoke generated by an insect repellent bomb, and this study can be used as basic research for analyzing the flow of smoke in a detector or studying the characteristics of a detector through numerical analysis in the future.

건축물 화재안전에 관한 관련법상 연구

Every time a major fire incident occurs, such as the Seocheon Specialized Market fire incident in South Chungcheong Province on January 22, 2024, the fire safety management authorities, including the central government (Ministry of Public Administration and Security, National Fire Agency) and local governments (local governments, fire stations), have revised organizations, mechanisms, and laws and promised to prevent recurrence. However, they are unable to effectively manage fire safety due to overlapping duties between fire safety management departments, dual regulations in fire-related laws, deficiencies in on-site command systems, and the public's insensitivity to disaster safety. Protecting the lives, bodies, and property of citizens from various unexpected fires aligns with the objectives of the「Constitution」,「Basic Fire Fighting Act」,「Fire-related Laws」, and「Building- related Laws」. This paper aims to present the problems and improvement directions of the laws related to fire safety management in buildings, followed by personal opinions and methods for enhancing public fire safety awareness and conducting education.

Firefighters' medical use and Korean Medicine experience in Korea: A qualitative study protocol.

Firefighters, compared to other occupational groups, are exposed more frequently in their working environment not only to physical issues, such as musculoskeletal disease, respiratory disease, and burns but also to mental health issues, such as PTSD and depression. Specifically, Korean firefighters experience significantly higher rates of work-related injuries compared to those in other countries. Recent statistics from the Korea National Fire Agency indicate a steady increase in the number of firefighting work-related injuries. However, there is a shortage of measures in place to address these issues. This study aims to investigate the health needs, overall healthcare usage, and unmet needs of firefighters in Korea. We also aim to investigate, through in-depth interviews, perceptions and hindering factors for integrative medicine approaches to fulfilling unmet needs. This study was conducted in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. Convenience and snowball sampling methods will be used to recruit firefighters to participate in the study, and interviews will be conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The data will be analyzed in four stages using the qualitative analysis method of Krippendorff. In this study, we examine the state of health issues and healthcare usage among Korean firefighters and investigate their perceptions of and needs for integrative medicine. In this way, we aim to explore how integrative medicine and Korean medicine approaches could improve and assist healthcare services for firefighters. Furthermore, our findings will provide policymakers and healthcare providers with the necessary basic information to develop integrative medicine systems suited to firefighters.

A Study to Improve the Stress Management Policy for Firefighters

The National Fire Agency in Korea has implemented various stress management programs for firefighters. However, few studies have focused on the actual effectiveness of these programs. This study thus aimed to explore problems in the psychological counseling system for firefighters, focusing on the case of Jeju Island, and to prepare an efficient operation plan for the system. Survey results indicate that counselors’ lack of understanding of firefighting results in low satisfaction with counseling services, and that firefighters with short service periods require counselors who understand the firefighting profession more than other groups do. In order to overcome these limitations, it is proposed that a counselor’s education program be introduced and that retired firefighters be hired for the psychological counseling program.

A Case Study on Simulation of Water Cycle in a Watershed Considering Artificial Elements such as Agricultural Reservoirs

The National Fire Agency in Korea has implemented various stress management programs for firefighters. However, few studies have focused on the actual effectiveness of these programs. This study thus aimed to explore problems in the psychological counseling system for firefighters, focusing on the case of Jeju Island, and to prepare an efficient operation plan for the system. Survey results indicate that counselors’ lack of understanding of firefighting results in low satisfaction with counseling services, and that firefighters with short service periods require counselors who understand the firefighting profession more than other groups do. In order to overcome these limitations, it is proposed that a counselor’s education program be introduced and that retired firefighters be hired for the psychological counseling program.

Measures to Prevent Traffic Accidents and Reduce Damages in 119 Ambulances

In 2021, the National Fire Agency recorded 141 traffic accidents involving 119 ambulances. A common scenario involves collisions at intersections, where ambulances often running into a red light intersect with vehicles proceeding with a green light. These accidents entail special attention because of the potential threats they pose not only to emergency medical service (EMS) personnel but also to the safety of patients and other vehicles on the road. Many studies have emphasized that it is necessary to reinforce the priority rights of ambulance and the duty of other vehicles to yield. However, research addressing challenges faced by ambulance drivers has remained insufficient. This study conducted a survey of EMS personnel about their psychological status while driving an ambulance and the use of warning lights and sirens. Prevention of traffic accidents related to 119 ambulances entails data collection and statistical analysis, reinforcement of professionals, expansion of emergency vehicle priority signaling systems, and development of simulator-based training programs. Policies that do not reflect ambulance drivers’ psychological state and driving patterns might turn out to be ineffective.

Interorganizational networks in response to the critical infrastructure breakdown: case of the 2018 KT network blackout

PurposeThis study aims to demonstrate how governmental authorities can take interorganizational network responses to address unexpected situations developed by the breakdown of critical infrastructure, such as communication failure in a hyperconnected society.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses social network analysis to investigate the performance of interorganizational response networks regarding the 2018 KT network blackout, a failure of telecommunication facility, compared to the planned network.FindingsThe national fire agency was the most prominent actor in the actual interorganizational network, while the actor was not significant in the planned network in addressing unexpected needs. Moreover, top government authorities were involved in the actual response network because of the national attention on the breakdown of the infrastructure as a focusing event.Originality/valueUnexpected conditions in the actual response to a technological disaster, such as a critical infrastructure (CI) breakdown, require the involvement of emerging or non-significant actors in accordance with the findings related to other types of disasters. Particularly, communication failure in a hyperconnected society may involve prominent government authorities in the actual interorganizational response because of the event's broad and severe impact on the functions of society.

Proposal of Fire Prevention Methodology for Temporary Constructions in Industrial Facilities through Case Analysis of Fire Sites in Korea

In this study, a fire prevention methodology was proposed using the case study of temporary constructions in domestic industrial facilities and data from the National Fire Agency. Fire cases in temporary construction industrial facilities in Pocheon-si and Eumseong-gun were analyzed. The material, cause of ignition, structure, and arrangement of temporary constructions at the fire sites were analyzed using data from the National Fire Agency and on-site investigation.

소방대원 『화학사고 현장대응 가이드북』 개발 및 적용

In this paper, we would like to introduce the National Fire Agency(NFA) 『Chemical Incident Response Guide(CIRG-FF)』, a guidebook for responding to special chemical disasters in Korea. In the case of chemical disaster-related guidelines provided by other organizations, information is provided to workers and the public as well as responders to disasters. For this reason, it is somewhat difficult for firefighters to use them. CIRG-FF is composed of response information on historical substances(138 types) of large and small scale chemical accidents that have occurred in Korea over the past 7 years(2014-2020). And, it is composed and produced with a focus on firefighters so that rapid and efficient chemical disaster response can be safely performed, and information such as safety technology for field activities is included. Furthermore, in order to increase the utilization of CIRG-FF, the

Development of a machine-learning algorithm to predict in-hospital cardiac arrest for emergency department patients using a nationwide database

In this retrospective observational study, we aimed to develop a machine-learning model using data obtained at the prehospital stage to predict in-hospital cardiac arrest in the emergency department (ED) of patients transferred via emergency medical services. The dataset was constructed by attaching the prehospital information from the National Fire Agency and hospital factors to data from the National Emergency Department Information System. Machine-learning models were developed using patient variables, with and without hospital factors. We validated model performance and used the SHapley Additive exPlanation model interpretation. In-hospital cardiac arrest occurred in 5431 of the 1,350,693 patients (0.4%). The extreme gradient boosting model showed the best performance with area under receiver operating curve of 0.9267 when incorporating the hospital factor. Oxygen supply, age, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, the number of ED beds, ED occupancy, and pulse rate were the most influential variables, in that order. ED occupancy and in-hospital cardiac arrest occurrence were positively correlated, and the impact of ED occupancy appeared greater in small hospitals. The machine-learning predictive model using the integrated information acquired in the prehospital stage effectively predicted in-hospital cardiac arrest in the ED and can contribute to the efficient operation of emergency medical systems.

The Introduction of the “Dispatch Slide” to Secure the Golden Time

During a disaster, through the “2022 Comprehensive Measures to Secure Golden Time at Disaster Sites”, the National Fire Agency (NFA) states that it aims for firefighters to leave their fire depots within 60 s. This study considered the use of the “Dispatch slide” to shorten the target time (60 s) of the garage escape and the travel times while using the stairs and the slide were measured and analyzed. The travel time using the “Dispatch slide” was about 11 s faster than that using the stairs. Fire stations in developed countries have already introduced and used the “Dispatch slide”. We hope that it will be introduced as soon as possible and will be widely used by organizations that require rapid space movement, such as firefighting, police, soldiers and security companies.

119종합상황실 공간특성에 관한 연구

The 119 Emergency Operation Center is an extremly significant organization not only to protect the peoples lives and safety, property from major disasters, but also fire service to secure the golden time and rapid action for the accurate situation decision. Accordingly, it is necessary to secure an optimal situation management space and related plans, but the 119 Emergency Operations center is currently lacking related facilities and significantly lacking the necessary space without a systematic space plan. Therefore, through this study, it is intended to improve the quality of the working environment of domestic fire department and achieve the foundation for preparing basic data in the future composition and planning of the 119 Emergency Operation Center. This study has been supplemented by conducting on-site surveys on major 119 Emergency Operation Centers and interviews with firefighters and officials and architectural experts to understand the current status of the case by receiving data from the National Fire Agency in August 2020. The 119 Emergency Operation Center was divided into Eccentric, Penetrating, and Central types according to the layout type based on the Operation Center, also each characteristic was analyzed by dividing into a vertical situation management method and a horizontal situation management method according to the direction of movement. As a result of analyzing the spatial characteristics of the 119 Emergency Operation Center, it is necessary to design it in consideration of Security, Efficiency, Scalability, and Comfort when planning and compartmentalizing the space.

Study on the Proposed Expansion of the Fire Engine Priority Signal System to Ensure Golden Time

The golden period is a concept in disaster response target-time management. It refers to the centralized response time required to maximize lives saved in an emergency. The National Fire Agency estimates that the golden period arrival time of fire engines is seven minutes. However, the arrival rate has dropped by about 68% in the last five years. Concessions and special provisions for the violation of laws are permitted to enable the swift response of fire engines. Despite this, the vehicles still cannot reach their destinations timeously. In this study, the effectiveness of the priority signal system was investigated using construction status and dispatch data. VISSIM, a traffic flow simulation software, was used to simulate the effectiveness of the priority signal system introduced to Cheong-ju city. This study can be used as the basis for the systematic construction of priority signal systems and further investigation on the topic.