• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.284-292
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• 2016

Background: In Ghana, fire incidents have become a regular occurrence, with thousands of lives and millions of dollars lost every year. Hardly a day passes without news of a fire outbreak in some part of Ghana, causing fear and panic among the people. This generates much discussion centering on rumors relating to politics, sabotage, misfortune, religious differences, etc. This article seeks to discuss the trend of fire incidents occurring in Ghana from 2000 to 2013 and the different ways to prevent these incidents. Methods: The pattern of fire incidence in Ghana as a whole as well as in each region is discussed. The study took into consideration the causes, mechanisms, as well as preventive measures against the fire menace. Data were obtained from the head office of Ghana's national fire service. Results: It was noticed that in general the rate of fire incidence increased each year. This increase was attributed to several factors: rate of population growth and industrialization, unstable electricity, urbanization, negligence, illegal electrical connection, etc. The cause of fire was categorized into domestic, industrial, vehicular, institutional, electrical, commercial, bush, and others. Among these causes, domestic fire accounted for 41% of the total number of fire incidents in the country. Conclusion: Finally, this study presents several recommendations to help prevent and mitigate fire incidents in Ghana.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.4_1
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• pp.722-733
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• 2024

According to the National Fire Agency, there are 1,810 waste recycling facilities, 2,094 waste treatment facilities, and 223 waste minimization facilities in Korea. Waste fires are characterized by high severity and are prone to reignition, and it is difficult to timely detect them. Waste fires consequently demand many firefighters, equipment, and time to extinguish. Notwithstanding this reality, waste is excluded from the category of special combustible materials in the Act on Installation and Management of Firefighting Systems, 2021 (the Act). Therefore, this study proposes that special combustible materials, including waste, should be incorporated into the Act, that fire detectors and photoelectric smoke detectors should be installed to enable early detection of fires, and that the use of water and foaming agents as firefighting equipment should be enforced.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-76
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• 2024

Purpose: To analyze trends related to demography and EMS and to provide supporting data for the appropriate deployment of EMS providers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data on patients transported by 119 EMS, demographics, and EMS factors were collected using the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) and the National Fire Agency annual report from 2017 to 2021. Results: During the study period, the total number of patients and those with severe disorders transported via 119 EMS showed an increasing trend. The total fertility rate and population during the same period tended to decrease, and the population density and number of households increased; however, there was a disparity between regions. The main demographic factors affecting the number of patients transported were population density and total fertility rate, while the main EMS factors were the number of ambulances and provision of emergency medical information services(hospital guidance, pharmacy information, and first aid guidance). Conclusion: From the perspective of EMS providers' force deployment, it is necessary to consider population density, population, number of households, total fertility rate, and number of emergency medical institutions and to strengthen the role of diverting the use of 119 EMS by minor patients by providing emergency medical information.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 2008

The prevention of disasters in cultural property is very important management and historical duties. The reason can't be measured values with monetary scale of our contemporary. Therefore, this paper was considered fire-safety as one of terrible threat-disasters about the wooden buildings. This research deal with 47 cases cultural property wooden building by whole investigation(field survey and interview) in Gangnung province. The most buildings have basic fire extinguisher; ABC powder. A few buildings are rarely installed fire extinguishing equipments; outdoor fire hydrant, heat sensor, ground sprinkler, CO2-hose-reel. But these state is very insufficient for the fire-safety in cultural property wooden buildings. Specially as particular attention in province, forest fire of regional characteristic have close relation with cultural property fire. The majority of factor against forest and building fire is to provide monitoring and security system; CCTV, Fence, Sensor, Alarm and paid guard man against incendiary. Ultimately it is necessary to construct comprehensive disaster prevention system with the organic cooperation such as National Emergency Management Agency, Cultural Heritage Administration, Forest Service, local government officials and regional citizen.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-119
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• 2005

When the national disaster accident is occurred, it is difficult to maintain the mutual cooperation systems. In order to solve the problems, the construction of the national unified command wireless network is necessary. In this paper, the specified state of the characteristic frequency of the digital TRS wireless network constructed recently is investigated and analyzed. Through the analysis, the problems of the construction of the national unified command wireless network are grasped. To solve the problem, it is proposed that the digital TRS wireless network is connected with the satellite communication network, and connected with the existing wireless network, LMR. In the concretely it is proposed that the natural unified wireless network should be proceeded step by step. At first, for 2 years the existing networks of the Fire Fighting Agency, the Police, the Forest Service and so on must be utilized and prepared to link with TRS. The second, for 2 years it is carried forward a scheme to maintain the properties of the agencies concerned. Further, it must be prepared to connect with satellite network. At third, for 2 years all agencies concerned with the fire fighting and the disaster prevention must be unified, and the systems have to be promoted for the p1an of linkage of TRS network and the existing network. Next the agencies concerned have to be unified and the authority has to be intensified. When a disaster is occurred, the National Emergency Management Agency has to play a central role. In a local area it has to be given the Fire Fighting Agency an authority and a duty to get ready for each emergency situation.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the counseling status of overseas Koreans using emergency medical counseling services, identify frequently occurring types of diseases, explore approaches to emergency treatment guidance, and protect overseas Koreans from medical blind spots, thereby enhancing the quality of emergency medical counseling services. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kongju National University (KNU_IRB_2023-31), and data were collected and analyzed from 10,951 cases of emergency medical counseling services utilized by overseas Koreans from the National Fire Agency from 2018 to 2022. Results: Emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans included a majority of non-trauma patients, with medical consultations being predominant. Terrestrial patients commonly seek advice for internal medical symptoms, whereas maritime patients frequently present with trauma-related symptoms, with a higher incidence of cardiac arrest and altered consciousness cases at sea. The development of self-diagnostic tests based on internal medicine symptoms is necessary for terrestrial patients, whereas stakeholder education is required for maritime patients. Conclusion: Due to the different types of diseases occurring in terrestrial and maritime patients, emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans should be implemented according to the specific characteristics of each patient. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and disseminate response manuals that are tailored to medical and trauma-related symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2014

Purpose: The emergency medical service (EMS) system in Japan is similar to that in Korea. This study reviewed the development of paramedics who are major personnel in the respective EMS system of their country. Methods: We searched law for paramedics and publications in J-stage, MEDLINE and the webpage of Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Results: Paramedic training had started in Japan in 1991, and most paramedics were employed in fire departments. In Japan, ambulances belonging to fire department are staffed by a three-person unit, including at least one paramedic. Medical control advisory boards were established in all Japanese prefectures in 2003 with the purpose of upgrading the activities of ambulance personnel, including paramedics. The scope of paramedics' work has been widened owing to the continued efforts of medical control advisory boards. This allows them to perform invasive procedures including tracheal intubation, intravenous line placement, and epinephrine administration under medical control of a physician. Conclusion: As paramedics' responsibilities expand, further development of the paramedic role and an effective medical control advisory board system are imperative both Korea and Japan.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2012

This study proposes to suggest a direction hereafter which is the most suitable operating system of electrical safety management agency for electrical facilities to enhance electrical safety considering our domestic conditions. It was designed to prevent electrical disasters which are increasing due to environmental changes in the electrical industry, and the diversification and complication of the electrical facilities. And the strategy of this research is based on conditions of safety management agency for the electrical facilities, with the analysis on conditions of electrical disasters, and with a questionnaire investigation for owner of electrical facilities, safety management agency. Results of this research are expected to be used to prevent electric fires and shocks effectively by reinforcing the electrical safety management agency of electrical facilities having danger of large-scaled accidents. It is expected to enhance the nation's competing power against foreign countries by reducing the human and physical loss, resulted from the development of reasonable operating system for electrical safety management agency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.665-671
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• 2019

The estimated on-site accident rate in Forestry is relatively high. According to statistics of the accident, in the recent 5 years, from 2014 to 2018, forestry accidents have resulted in 98% of injuries and 87% of fatalities. Especially, there are significant geographical constraints to access to the scene in case of an accident. Even though the capacity of first aid capacity is notably emphasized its importance to minimize the scale of damages, the relevant employees have been educated only basic first aid, which is not considered circumstances or geographic limitations, by Occupation Safety and Health Acts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to derive a direction for a forest emergency service system to increase forestry workers' survival and prevent secondary injury through securing 'Golden Time.' This study conducts analyzing relevant laws and regulations in domestic and international settings as well as looking at several concerned accident cases. The outcome of analysis presents an issue regarding the implementation of onsite first aid in forestry and existing risk factors depending on the working process. Finally, we suggest two ways to improve the forest emergency service that are 1) an appropriate curriculum and kit for forest first aid; and 2) a system for emergency transfer through sharing information between National Fire Agency (NFA) and emergency medical service center, and emergency and rescue mission using helicopter from NFA and Korea Forest Service.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.77-86
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• 2018

In recent years, the high growth of the Korean society has led to the development of large and small incidents and accidents, while safety regulations, such as the firefighting sector, have been strengthened with the expectation of people desiring safety. This study surveyed the problems and improvement plan of the current operation centered on the fire service public officers in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon. As a result of the main research, it is necessary to arrange and carry out excellent investigative manpower, such as lawyers and professional career veterans in the fire department, metropolitan city and provincial firefighting headquarters, and frontline fire departments. In particular, it was suggested that a special task force should be established and set up in the above agency, and the planning investigation and enforcement work should be solved through subdivision of the fire special enforcement officer tasks, and the judicial cases that are difficult to be handled by the local fire station. In future research, it will be necessary to study the field of fire - fighting specialists' needs for more specialized education and various disaster field experiences.