The 115 Emergency Center successfully rescued a 75-year-old woman who had experienced cardiac arrest by providing first aid guidance over the phone and deploying a two-wheeled ambulance, Dr. Nguyen Duy Long, director of the center said on Monday.

Due to the narrow alley and congested streets around her home, medical workers opted to use a two-wheeled ambulance to reach her quickly after receiving an emergency call reporting the elderly woman suddenly collapsing due to cardiac arrest. 

The incident happened on March 21, when the center received a call from a resident in Co Giang Ward, District 1. 

The caller reported that a woman, 75, had turned blue and lost consciousness shortly after her meal.

After calming the caller, the dispatcher assessed the situation and began guiding the caller through performing chest compressions over the phone.

Simultaneously, the dispatcher connected with the Saigon General Hospital to dispatch emergency personnel to the scene.

Given the urgency of the situation and the difficult terrain with narrow streets and heavy traffic, the hospital quickly dispatched a team comprising a doctor and a nurse on a two-wheeled ambulance, equipped with medication and specialized medical supplies.

The team reached the location within five minutes.

Upon arrival, the medical team found the family members of the patient performing chest compressions as instructed for her.

After an assessment, it was determined that the woman had likely suffered a respiratory and circulatory failure due to choking. 

The medical team immediately began advanced cardiac life support and dispatched an ambulance to the scene.

After some 10 minutes of resuscitation, the woman's heart started beating again, just as the ambulance arrived to transport her to the hospital.

At the hospital, the patient received continued care and intensive treatment.

After one day, her condition improved, and she regained consciousness, was responsive, and was in stable condition after being weaned off the ventilator.

Dr. Long said that the woman's survival was made possible through the combined efforts of telephone first aid guidance and the swift deployment of the two-wheeled ambulance. 

This incident highlighted the vital role of technology and creative, efficient solutions in emergency care.

Since May 2019, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has been implementing two-wheeled ambulance services throughout the city. 

The initiative has significantly improved response times, especially in the city's central areas, where narrow alleys and heavy traffic can impede access.

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