'Bear man' honored for rapid emergency response

Wang Yong, owner of a pet hospital in Chongqing in Southwest China, used to wear a teddy bear costume to hand out pamphlets advertising his business in front of a local park.

As affable and clumsy as he was in the full-body costume, Wang surprised everyone one afternoon in October 2021 when he sprang into action to help a tourist who had collapsed after a heart attack.

"A young man was already giving the patient CPR, but I could tell he was inexperienced and his movements were not entirely correct. So, I immediately took off my costume and offered to help," said Wang, a registered volunteer with the city's Red Cross branch.

"Honestly, my mind went totally blank at that moment. I was used to practicing with mannequins, but that was the first time I had used my skills on a real person," he said.

Wang's practice had made him highly proficient. After he had delivered two rounds of CPR and provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the patient quickly regained consciousness.

Wang left the scene shortly after emergency medics arrived and confirmed that the patient was in stable condition.

Last month, the 51-year-old was honored by the Red Cross Society of China as one of 10 individuals or groups who had performed first aid to help those in need.

The group was awarded the title of the Top 10 Excellent First Aiders.

Wang has heart disease, so he has already had five heart stents implanted. His life nearly ended a couple of years ago when he collapsed on the roadside.

Luckily, two strangers who were passing promptly sent him to the hospital. "I was told by the doctor that any further delay would have killed me," he said. "The prompt assistance I received was one of the reasons that prompted me to learn first aid," he added.

"My mother has heart disease and high blood pressure, I was scared that I wouldn't be able to help her if she fell sick."

He first learned about CPR training at the local Red Cross Society in 2017. Two years later, he bought a CPR mannequin to practice regularly and was certified to use both CPR and an automated external defibrillator in May 2021.

A video clip of Wang's actions recorded by a bystander during the incident went viral online, earning him the nickname "bear man" among online users, a nod to his lifesaving deeds.

The video also directed all inquiries about where and how to study first-aid skills to Wang and his pet hospital.

"I told the city's Red Cross branch about the surge in inquiries, and they invited me to participate in an awareness campaign and demonstrate CPR skills," he said.

Wang has also put a CPR mannequin and disposable mask on show at his pet hospital, welcoming customers and local residents to learn and experience first-aid skills.