Recently, a 70-year-old man in Daxing District suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness while working in the fields. In panic, his family immediately dialed 120 for emergency assistance. After receiving the call, a Beijing 120 Daxing Sub-center ambulance crew — doctor Hou Guiping, nurse Bai Chenglin, and driver Qi Zhikui — quickly assembled and rushed to the scene. On the way, Dr. Hou contacted the family to ask about the patient’s condition. The family members were trembling with anxiety on the phone. Remaining calm, Dr. Hou instructed them: “Lay the patient flat, raise his head slightly, and turn his head to one side to prevent suffocation. Do not move him unnecessarily — we’ll be there soon.” These brief but professional instructions not only reassured the family, but also helped avoid secondary injury caused by improper movement.
Upon arrival, Dr. Hou immediately conducted a physical examination and found that the patient had regained consciousness but showed weakness on the left side of the body, slurred speech, and drooling from the corner of the mouth — all classic signs of a stroke. Meanwhile, nurse Bai simultaneously monitored the patient’s vital signs: blood pressure was 161/87 mmHg, heart rate 63 beats per minute, and respiratory rate 19 breaths per minute. The crew also learned that the patient had a history of hypertension, strongly suggesting a cerebrovascular emergency. The patient was then promptly transported to the hospital for further treatment.
During transport, Dr. Hou contacted the hospital’s emergency department in advance to activate the stroke green channel. He informed the hospital of the suspected stroke diagnosis, the patient’s current vital signs, and the estimated arrival time. The emergency department, neurosurgery department, and imaging department responded immediately. Emergency equipment, CT examination arrangements, and specialist physicians were all prepared in advance. When the ambulance arrived, emergency personnel transferred the patient directly into the resuscitation room, achieving seamless coordination in which “the information arrived before the patient, and preparations were completed before the ambulance crew arrived.”
A CT scan later confirmed that the patient had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Thanks to standardized pre-hospital emergency care, rapid transport, and an efficient green channel, the patient received effective treatment within the critical golden time window. His vital signs are now stable, and he is continuing further treatment in the hospital. Dr. Hou said, “Every second in pre-hospital emergency care affects a patient’s future quality of life. From telephone guidance to on-site identification, from in-transit monitoring to pre-arrival hospital alerts, every step is crucial.”
This successful rescue demonstrated not only the professionalism of the emergency team, but also the effectiveness of coordination between pre-hospital and in-hospital care. From dispatch to hospital admission, the entire process took less than 30 minutes. And during the ambulance’s race to the scene, Dr. Hou’s reassuring words — “We’ll be there soon” — became the greatest source of comfort for both the critically ill patient and the panicked family members.
Beijing 120 Health Reminder:
If someone around you suddenly develops weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, slurred speech, or sudden loss of consciousness, call 120 immediately for emergency assistance.
While waiting for help to arrive, keep the patient lying flat with the head slightly elevated and turned to one side to maintain an open airway. Do not move the patient unnecessarily, and do not give food or water, in order to prevent aspiration or suffocation. Stay calm and follow professional instructions carefully.