2,000 Automated External Defibrillators Will Be Installed In Melaka To Aid Sudden Cardiac Arrests

By Quinny Tan  •  07 Jul 2022 in News

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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Malaysia, according to chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin. And you don’t need a hereditary condition to get a heart attack, either. Anyone could die from a heart attack at any time, and at any place.

Yesterday, it was announced that 2,000 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will be placed at popular sites in Melaka to aid those who experience sudden cardiac arrest.

Majlis Datuk-Datuk Negeri Melaka (MDDNM) deputy president Datuk Ahmad Zaini Mohd Amin, said the AEDs would be installed in stages over the next two to three years.

He was proud to mention that six AEDs have been installed in public places, while 60 people have been trained as first responders.

This is through a programme organised by MDDNM in collaboration with the Melaka Civil Defence Force and St John Ambulance of Malaysia, as reported by The Vibes.

“This is part of MDDNM’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment. The devices are contributions from various parties, to ensure that individuals who have a heart attack in public can be revived,” told reporters after presenting the AEDs to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

This is in conjunction with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s decision to make AEDs compulsory for government buildings and public facilities to be installed at their premises by 2025.

He said that the AED project was launched on 1 June with an allocation of RM3 million in an interview with NST.

He added with the use of AED, the patients have two to three times the probability of survival because the most risky time is within 10 minutes after the heart attack occurs. With the AED, lives could be saved.