SINGAPORE--About 5,000 people yesterday broke the record for the world's largest Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training session, which marked the second National Life Saving Day here.
The feat came with a serious message: That learning how to use the AED may save lives. This, as about 1,400 people collapse out of hospital each year in Singapore, with only about 20 per cent receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the first few minutes.
Most of them also do not get an AED used on them in those vital first few minutes. Studies show that the use of CPR and the AED may increase survival rates of cardiac arrest patients by more than 50 per cent.
The event was organized by the Singapore Heart Foundation, the National Resuscitation Council, and partners such as the Institute of Technical Education, Nanyang Polytechnic, People's Association and Singapore Sports Council.
SOURCE: Today Online