Bucheon City is continuing its safety management efforts for 1,521 individuals this year through the 'Emergency Safety and Care Service' to protect vulnerable seniors living alone and others at high risk during emergencies.

The Emergency Safety and Care Service involves installing Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-based emergency safety equipment in the homes of eligible individuals. Emergency management personnel monitor for abnormal signals to respond swiftly in the event of a crisis.

This year, the city conducted 16,974 phone-based and 2,810 in-person safety checks, responding to a total of 146 emergency situations. Currently, 1,521 emergency safety devices are in operation, with 2,600 maintenance checks performed to ensure proper device functionality.

In a real-life example last June, when "119 call" and "cancellation" signals were repeatedly triggered at an elderly resident's home, an emergency management worker requested an on-site check from a care worker. The care worker discovered the senior collapsed in the home's bathroom and reported the incident to 119. The senior was safely transported to a hospital and received treatment.

The Bucheon Ojeong Senior Welfare Center, the service provider, was selected as a representative exemplary agency in Gyeonggi Province, recognized for its excellence in the "community and local government network" category during the 2025 evaluation of 35 service-providing organizations across the province.

The city plans to further strengthen its safety management system by cooperating with local care personnel—including emergency management workers, service agencies, and care workers—to meticulously monitor abnormal signals and ensure prompt responses to emergency situations.

"Protecting vulnerable seniors during emergencies requires seamless integration between detecting abnormal signals through equipment and rapid on-site responses," said Park Eun-jung, Head of the Senior Welfare Division at Bucheon City. "We will reinforce the cooperative network among emergency management personnel, service providers, and local care workers to respond to crises without any gaps."

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]