Just one heartbeat away

Source: The Star

PETALING JAYA: Six months ago, a 60-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on a field in Selangor. He was saved when rescuers resuscitated him with an automated external defibrillator (AED).

In another case, a man who owned an AED helped save the life of a futsal player who had collapsed after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The incident was reported in The Star under the headline CPR, AED help save life of futsal player who collapsed in Penang (Aug 19, 2023).

The importance of having AEDs in public and private spaces cannot be overstated, given their potential to save lives during emergencies, said the Health Ministry.

"They can enable an immediate response together with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to help restore the heart's normal rhythm in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest.

"The chances of survival decrease rapidly with each passing minute during a cardiac arrest, but with the aid of an AED, the likelihood of survival is significantly improved," the ministry said.

As such, it said, a proposal to ensure the installation of AEDs in public facilities by 2025 is one of the ministry's proactive measures to improve the survival chances of people experiencing SCA.

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In March 2022, then health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that all public facilities and transportation services would be required to have AEDs available by 2025.

However, the ministry acknowledged that there is a lack of a centralised registry to monitor AED placements and ensure strategic coverage across the nation.

In a statement to The Star, it said: "The lack of comprehensive data also makes it challenging to assess the nationwide coverage and impact of AED placements in Malaysia."

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This is despite successful efforts by some organisations to install AEDs, it added.

The ministry suggested that a centralised coordinated approach led by government agencies be put in place to enhance the effectiveness of AED deployment initiatives.

This, it said, would help to ensure a more systematic and strategic distribution of these life-saving devices across the country.

At present, the initiative to promote AED placement is mainly driven by non-governmental organisations like St John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM), Malaysian Red Crescent, and Penang Heart Safe Society (PHSS).

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To date, PHSS has collaborated with local authorities and the Penang government to install more than 200 AEDs at public areas and buildings.

SJAM has installed more than 60 AEDs, mostly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, since the start of its National Community AED Project in 2019.

According to the ministry, some companies have also installed AEDs at their premises, but no data is available on the exact number.

Asked about factors that hinder certain facilities from installing the devices, the ministry cited financial constraints, lack of awareness, regulatory issues, liability and maintenance concerns, and logistical challenges among them.