HATYAI — Emergency responders in southern Thailand faced online criticism after a woman posted that they had entered her home wearing shoes while attending to a patient.
The post sparked widespread confusion among netizens, many of whom criticized the woman for targeting the rescuers. In her post, she wrote: “No matter the situation, etiquette requires removing your shoes. Where is the courtesy? This is unacceptable to me.”
The Taphong Therdtham Rescue Foundation later issued a statement apologising for the incident but explained the urgent circumstances. The patient was in critical condition and required immediate treatment for a stroke, including blood clot-dissolving medication or an intervention within 4.5 hours to reduce the risk of death or long-term disability. A CT scan of the brain was performed within 30–60 minutes to allow rapid treatment.
Speaking to Khaosod, a rescue officer involved said the team received an emergency call at 10:50 on 3 April about a patient with sudden weakness. Upon arrival, the patient was unable to move, slurred speech, and appeared drowsy. The responders had to quickly bring medical equipment inside and did not remove their shoes to avoid delaying lifesaving care.
The officer noted that the patient’s relatives did not object to the footwear at the time, and most homeowners normally allow shoes to remain on during urgent interventions to prevent delays and facilitate equipment handling.
The team said they were both angry and saddened by the social media backlash, as they had prioritised the patient’s life above all else. They added that the only apology received came from the woman’s younger brother, not the poster herself.
The foundation emphasised that every emergency is treated as a race against time, particularly high-risk cases like strokes, where rapid treatment is crucial for survival and reducing long-term disability.