Military to offer emergency relief, first aid during Chuseok holidays

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- The military will be on hand to offer emergency rescue and medical services during the upcoming Chuseok holidays, the defense ministry said Friday.

The ministry said 3,540 troops and 620 ambulances and helicopters will be on call at 260 military units nationwide. Separately, first aid support centers will be set up at 18 military hospitals in the country.

Chuseok is one of Korea's largest traditional holidays during which millions of South Koreans will head to their hometowns. The full-moon festival day falls on this coming Thursday, but most people will get time off from Wednesday through next Sunday.

A ministry official said that during the holidays, its military situation rooms will make certain people needing help can get relief in a timely manner.

According to the ministry, the military have been providing first aid to 1,241 patients during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays since 2007.
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