On January 1, 2025, as New Year’s Day celebrations were underway, the dispatch and command center of the Beijing Emergency Center remained busy as usual, with phones ringing continuously. Dispatchers were firmly stationed at their posts, working diligently. At around 9 a.m., dispatching doctor Ma Yongxing received an emergency call.
“Hello, the patient is having difficulty breathing and feels a bit suffocated. The address is ***.”
“Okay, please don’t hang up. I’ll send an ambulance immediately.”
After dispatching the ambulance, Dr. Ma continued the call to gather more details. He learned that the patient was a 40-year-old man who had lost consciousness and was struggling to breathe. Realizing the urgency, Dr. Ma sent a text message to the caller requesting a video connection. Once guiding the families to connect the video, Dr. Ma assessed the situation and identified signs of agonal breathing—a critical condition requiring immediate resuscitation.
“The patient’s breathing is not normal—it’s agonal breathing. He needs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. I’ll guide you through it. Please follow my instructions. “Lay the patient flat on his back. Place the base of your one hand on his sternum, right in the center between the nipples, and place your other hand on top of the first. Press down vertically using both arms. The compression depth should be at least 5 centimeters. Follow my counting rhythm: 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4… Keep pressing continuously. The ambulance will arrive soon!”
While guiding the family, Dr. Ma coordinated with a colleague to contact the ambulance crew, providing them with a detailed update on the patient’s condition and urging them to arrive as quickly as possible.
A few minutes later, the ambulance reached the scene, and the video call ended. Emergency medical personnel immediately took over, delivering advanced and coordinated first aid. The team swiftly performed CPR, tracheal intubation, intravenous access establishment, and defibrillation in a seamless sequence. These timely and professional efforts successfully restored the patient’s heartbeat and spontaneous breathing on-site.
The dispatch team leader also coordinated with the nearest hospital, activating a green channel to ensure the emergency department was prepared to receive the patient. The ambulance subsequently transported the patient to the hospital for further treatment.
The successful resuscitation of the patient was made possible through the timely recognition and active cooperation of the family, the precise judgment and guidance of the dispatching doctor, as well as the rapid and efficient response of the ambulance crew. We sincerely hope for the patient’s speedy recovery and discharge.