PETALING JAYA: More automated external defibrillator (AED) devices should be installed in places such as public buildings, places of worship and schools, say first aid responders.
St John Ambulance of Malaysia executive manager Kevin Peter Ryapan said teaching the community on awareness, skills and use of equipment related to cardiac arrest emergencies can lead to improved survival rates.
He said his organisation has installed, via public donations, more than 90 AED devices within and outside of Klang Valley.
“We saw with our own eyes that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) alone could not solve the challenges but AED will make a lot of difference,” he said in an interview.
Kevin said a teenager had helped save a friend’s life who had collapsed at her dormitory.
“The 16-year-old with a heart condition which was not detected earlier, fell unconscious in her dormitory.
“She is a badminton player and was training hard for the game.
“Luckily, her friend helped her by using the AED,” he added.
He said that St John Ambulance of Malaysia will continue to work closely with grassroots NGOs, schools and communities to install AEDs at their premises.
“We were notified of a teacher who passed away due to cardiac arrest at school some two to three weeks ago. The school then ordered the installation of an AED,” he said.
Kevin also hoped the authorities can give an update to the ruling that it will be mandatory for the installation of AED devices at public facilities by 2025.
"Khairy Jamaluddin who was the Health Minister, was proposing to make a ruling. After the change of the minister, it was never pushed through," he said.
Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities president Datuk Parmjit Singh also agreed that the AED should be installed in more places including in private and public learning institutions.
“Cardiac arrests are not just restricted to older persons but are also prevalent among younger people.
“Every university should be equipped with AEDs and have staff trained to deploy them when the need arises,” he said.
