PENANG aims to equip students in all 129 secondary schools with skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) by 2028.
State youth, sports and health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Si Zen said the state had been steadily strengthening its community cardiac emergency response through various initiatives.
He said the Penang Safe Heart Programme, launched in 2015, had laid a strong foundation with the installation of 1,000 AEDs at 600 public locations.
“We are now taking the next step through our Future Heroes CPR and AED Programme,” he told reporters at a press conference to announce an upcoming community event called “Action for Jantungku.”
He added that 2,292 students from 27 secondary schools participated in one of Penang’s largest CPR and AED training exercises last year, earning recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records.
The next phase will see the programme expanded to all secondary schools.
Gooi said members of the public play a crucial role in responding to cardiac emergencies, as the first person able to help was often not a doctor or nurse.
According to the Statistics Department, ischaemic heart disease was the leading medically certified cause of death in Penang in 2024.
Hence, “Action for Jantungku” is aimed at increasing awareness about heart health.
It is organised by Penang Adventist Hospital’s Community Health Department in collaboration with Gurney Plaza and supported by several renowned brands.
The free-admission event on Sept 27 will take place at Extension Wing Atrium of Gurney Plaza from 11am to 5pm.
Also present were Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH) president and chief executive officer Albin Phua, its marketing director Caleb Lim, consultant cardiologist and internal medicine specialist Dr Aaron Ong Hean Jin, consultant cardiologist and internal medicine specialist Dr Jeremy Quah Wy Jin and Gurney Plaza, Capita Land Malaysia trust marketing communications manager Reney Khor.
