Seen is a computer-generated image of a stretcher device specifically designed for infants and young children in ambulances, invented by paramedic Lee Su-jeong. Courtesy of Lee Su-jeong

A paramedic in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, invented a stretcher device specifically designed for infants and young children in ambulances.

Lee Su-jeong, with 20 years of experience as a paramedic and the mother of two children, was inspired by the fact that while child car seats are mandatory in regular vehicles, ambulances, which transport patients, lack similar equipment for children.

When transporting patients, ambulances typically secure them to a stretcher for stability. However, for infants or young children, there are no specialized restraints designed to fit their smaller bodies.

"Most pediatric patients are transported with a caregiver or paramedic holding them during the ride. If an accident occurs, the child could be thrown, leading to serious injury or even death," Lee told the Korea Times in a telephone interview. "Additionally, if the child gets fussy, it is challenging for paramedics to perform tasks like checking the child's temperature."

"With adult patients, securing them to a stretcher makes these procedures straightforward, but due to the unique nature of infants and young children, it is not as simple. That is why I started thinking about how to create a solution to properly secure them."

Paramedic Lee Su-jeong poses after receiving the fire commissioner's prize at the national safety invention challenge in the Seoul YMCA building, Dec. 11. Courtesy of Lee Su-jeong

Her idea involves attaching a separate device to the main stretcher used for patient transport, equipped with belts to secure a child's body.

On the backrest, she added a temperature-regulating pad to help manage the patient's body temperature. Additionally, an electronic device mounted on the front allows real-time monitoring of the child's condition.

Her idea was recognized at this year's national safety invention challenge, hosted by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the Korea Coast Guard and the Korea Customs Service, where she was awarded the fire commissioner's prize.

Lee said it took nearly a year to develop the final product through collaboration with a patent attorney and further refinement of her idea.

"Honestly, I had only come up with the idea at first and had not thought about how to specifically design or model the product. When I was asked to turn the idea into something more concrete, it was quite challenging for me at the time," she said.

As an idea of a public servant, her invention became the property of Gyeonggi Province.

Currently, the office of Gyeonggi Province is in the process of transferring the technology through a contract with a child product manufacturing company.

"I will continue to do my best to ensure that infants and young children can reach hospitals quickly and safely," she said.