KJ on mission to place life-saving AEDs in all buildings

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is on a mission to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) installed at all buildings.

He said having the medical device is important as half of the deaths caused by acute myocardial infarction happened outside of the hospital and patients die before reaching the hospital.

''Heart diseases are one of the top causes of fatality in the country.

''We need a whole-of-society approach to make this work,'' he said after opening the 11th National Acute Myocardial Infarction Course by the Serdang Hospital in Bangsar on Saturday (Oct 16).

AED is a medical device to analyse the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal.

Ventricular fibrillation happens when a patient has an uncoordinated heart rhythm, which is the most common cause of a sudden heart attack.

Without mentioning the targeted timeline for the approach, Khairy said in many other countries, having an AED is common in buildings housing education institutions, government offices and corporate offices.

''It (AED) must be displayed and we need to train as many people as possible to be first responders," he said, adding that from his discussions with the Red Crescent Society and St John Ambulance, the public need to be taught to become first respondents.

He said he will discuss with the relevant ministries including state or local government.

''I will push for it. I'll have to discuss with the relevant ministries including state or local government to make it for a start for government buildings to have it then move on for others which are bigger (building by law),'' he added.

Kahriy said that he would bring the proposal to the Cabinet soon.