Posted on 02/20/2008

February 20, 2008­–SHANGHAI­–Local medical experts are urging the government to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public venues as soon as possible to provide people with emergency treatment if they suffer sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).Beijing is currently the only city in China to have installed defibrillators in public places, including airports and at Olympic sports venues.The local government is considering the issue in the lead-up to World Expo in 2010.

A training center was established at Shanghai Chest Hospital last month to teach the public how to use AEDs properly.

“The AED is a portable automatic device restoring normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest,” said Dr Liu Xu, vice director of the hospital’s cardiology department and training-center chief.“Sudden loss of heart function claims about one million Chinese lives each year.Having cardiac arrest for five minutes without undergoing proper therapy can result in serious brain damage. Ten minutes can kill the person.”

On average, it takes an ambulance about 13 minutes to reach a victim in downtown Shanghai.But for every minute that passes without defibrillation, a victim’s chances of survival decrease by approximately 10 percent.

“This is why having defibrillators readily accessible is so crucial,” Liu said. “With defibrillators, the success rate of before-hospital treatment can improve from five percent to 49 percent, according to the experience in Western countries, where defibrillators are available in many public places.”

- Cai Wenjun, Shanghai Daily

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