Taipei City Fire Department

Fully equipped with 12-lead ECG, seamless monitoring of patients, and successfully saved 18 people in January and February

    According to the statistics of the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, cardiovascular disease has consistently been the second leading cause of death among Taiwanese, and myocardial infarction(MI) is the primary cause of sudden death. To facilitate early detection and timely notification for hospitals to prepare, the Taipei City Government Fire Department has cooperated with hospitals equipped with 24/7 cardiac catheterization capabilities for emergency treatment. This partnership has entered its seventh year as of the 112th year. The purpose of this cooperation is to monitor suspected MI patients with 12-lead ECG before arriving at the hospital and synchronize the results with the hospital, ensuring seamless monitoring for the hospital's cardiac catheterization team to utilize.

    Starting from September 2022, all 45 fire stations in Taipei city have been equipped with 12-lead ECG transmission devices to promote early diagnosis of MI and increase the chance of vascular reperfusion. According to statistics, from January to February 2023, a total of 534 cases of 12-lead ECG transmission were successfully transmitted in just two months. Among them, 93 cases were judged by medical technicians as suspected "ST-elevation acute MI" before arriving at the hospital and were immediately reported. 18 cases were diagnosed by the hospital as MI and successfully treated with vascular reperfusion, saving valuable lives and ensuring the integrity of 18 families.

    The Taipei Fire Department urges the public that if they suddenly feel chest pain (tightness), difficulty breathing, cold sweats, and nausea or vomiting, it may be a MI, which is caused by myocardial damage and necrosis due to coronary artery blockage. In severe cases, it may cause cardiac and pulmonary arrest before arrival at the hospital. According to current treatment guidelines, it is recommended to complete the treatment from the patient's arrival at the hospital emergency department to reperfusion within 90 minutes. Therefore, if the above symptoms occur, the public should immediately call 119 for prompt medical attention to avoid missing the opportunity for treatment. Please also respect the professional advice of emergency personnel. The ambulance will take the patient to the most appropriate medical institution, and please do not specify certain hospital to go.