Golden time shorter compression suffocation… Is the 'pressurized survival method' effective?

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Let's look at the Itaewon disaster from the perspective of disaster medicine.

Medical reporter Cho Dong-chan is here.

[Cho Dong-chan / medical reporter (specialist): Last year, eight people died and hundreds were injured in a crushing accident at a concert hall in Houston, USA.

Many of the 50,000 spectators were crushed while trying to get closer to the stage, but when the audience was divided into four areas, the death occurred in only one area.

It was due to one side of the audience.

In order to control people, barriers are installed or entrances are closed, which increases the internal pressure of the gathered people, and when the barriers are broken or the door is opened, a tremendous force is instantly directed toward it, leading to a large-scale crushing accident.

The alley designated as the site of this disaster is narrow, and the internal pressure of the people gathered there must have easily increased.

Also, because it was downhill, the force was easily shifted to one side, so it seems that he was vulnerable to a crushing accident.]

[Cho Dong-chan / Medical reporter (specialist): When you breathe in, your lungs expand and your chest and stomach expand.

When the chest or stomach is compressed, there is no room for the lungs to expand, so breathing stops.

A study at the University of Tokyo in Japan found that women could experience respiratory arrest even if they were crushed by 60% of their body weight.

In addition, when the pressure in the body becomes too high, blood that should enter the heart cannot enter and blood vessels in the face rupture, causing red spots on the eyes and face.

Also, they fall into shock and lose their lives because of the tremendous pain and fear of being stepped on by others.]

[Cho Dong-chan / Medical reporter (specialist): The golden time of CPR is 4 minutes, but the golden time is shorter in the case of crushed death because the airways and blood vessels are damaged.

In addition to CPR, high-concentration oxygen and ventilator treatment are also important.

In this regard, it is regrettable that the arrival of the rescue team was delayed and the hospital treatment was delayed.]

[Cho Dong-chan/Medical Reporter (specialist): If one or two people press on you, protecting your chest can help, but a crushing accident often occurs when you are under pressure with the weight of about 10 adults in a 1㎡ space. But in this case, it would be difficult to bear with both arms.

Pressure on the stomach causes the same damage.

We should focus on preventing the crushing accident itself rather than how to survive the crushing accident.]

[Cho Dong-chan/Medical Reporter (specialist): The on-site video of the victim is traumatized by the people who see it, but it leaves indelible scars and fears on the bereaved family.

Therefore, the Korean Association of Mental Health issued a statement asking us to stop distributing the accident video and photos.]