Heroes without borders! A few days ago, while traveling in Japan, Chen Ping-wei and Chang Chin-kai, firefighters from the Taiping Branch of the Third Corps of the Fire Bureau, Taichung City Government, encountered a dire situation where an elderly woman collapsed on the street. Despite being far from home, their commitment and sense of duty drove them to respond swiftly and provide emergency assistance without hesitation.
The Fire Bureau noted that despite facing language barriers initially, the two firefighters promptly assessed the patient and confirmed an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Chen performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while Chang removed the patient’s dentures to ensure her airway was clear. They provided effective first aid within the critical rescue window and timely assistance for the patient. With the help of local residents, the two firefighters successfully used an automated external defibrillator (AED) until local emergency responders arrived. Using mobile translation apps, they communicated the patient's condition to Japanese paramedics and aided in transferring the patient into the ambulance before leaving. This event underscores firefighters' dedication to saving lives and the spirit of international rescue collaboration.
The Fire Bureau also noted that both Chen and Chang are dedicated to rescue efforts. In addition to their routine firefighting training, they also actively engage in learning various medical-related knowledge to continuously improve their rescue abilities. Chen graduated as an emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P) last year, while Chang is also gearing up to join EMT-P training this April.
The Fire Bureau added that when the heartbeat stops, brain damage due to oxygen deprivation can occur within 4 minutes, with potential brain death after 10 minutes. Administering CPR and using an AED promptly is crucial for potentially saving a life.