Feifeng Mountain in Qionglin Township, Hsinchu County, is a popular hiking spot, where incidents of visitors feeling unwell or getting injured are not uncommon. In the past year alone, there have been two fatalities. In response, the Qionglin Fire Brigade has been conducting intensive CPR training sessions on the mountain and has installed 17 location markers to help hikers prepare for emergencies, hoping to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Known as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Hsinchu County, Feifeng Mountain receives around 700,000 hikers annually, most of whom are middle-aged or elderly, putting them at relatively higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Last month, one hiker fell ill and lost consciousness on the mountain. When firefighters arrived, the individual had no vital signs and was pronounced dead despite attempts to revive him at the hospital, leaving the family devastated and heartbroken.
According to fire department statistics, emergency medical cases on Feifeng Mountain have been frequent over the past year, with sprains and falls making up the majority of calls. However, there were also two cases where hikers fell into comas and later died despite being taken to the hospital, highlighting the need for hikers to be equipped not just with fitness, but also with emergency first-aid awareness.
To address this, Shen Youlin, captain of the Third Brigade of the Fire Bureau, took advantage of a weekend to lead the Qionglin Fire Brigade and volunteer paramedics in conducting a CPR awareness session in front of the Daijian Hall on Feifeng Mountain. He hopes that in similar emergencies, fellow hikers can step in immediately to save precious lives.
Shen Youlin explained that according to data, the survival rate decreases by 10% for every minute that passes after cardiac arrest. If CPR and an AED shock can be administered within the first minute, the success rate of restoring normal heart rhythm can exceed 90%. If performed within 3 to 5 minutes, the survival rate drops to about 50%, and after 8 to 10 minutes, the survival rate falls below 10%.
Additionally, due to the mountain’s many forked trails, ambulances can only reach Daijian Hall, and firefighters must proceed on foot beyond that point. To improve response times and reduce the chance of hikers getting lost, the fire bureau has installed 17 location markers on the mountain. These allow hikers to describe their position accurately during emergency calls using the markers, speeding up rescue efforts.
(China Times)