We agree that automated external defibrillator efforts should not be one-offs (“AED efforts should not be one-off, but part of bigger scheme”; May 5).
In Singapore, nearly 70 per cent of cardiac arrests occur at home. The rest occur in workplaces and public areas. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED (CPR+AED) skills are relevant to all these environments.
Any citizen can learn to become a confident user of these skills. While skills attrition is common, repetitive learning ensures continued confidence and competence, and removes the fear of using the skills to save lives.
CPR+AED can be learnt at any of the current 80 NRC-accredited training centres. Trained instructors wishing to teach and maintain such skills are encouraged to join any of these centres and help train more people.
The NRC has helped organise mass public training sessions, leading to certification of thousands. A two-hour programme to simplify recertification in these core skills is also available.
It would indeed be good to have visible notices informing the public of the nearest available AED. The NRC will work with various agencies to improve access when the need to save a life arises. The availability of such notices should be coordinated.
The NRC also supports efforts of the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Singapore Heart Foundation in setting up a national online registry identifying AED locations at public places via the SCDF myResponder app.
Through this, the public can access the location of the nearest AED and register as Community First Responders and be alerted to cardiac arrests in their immediate vicinity.
Owners should take responsibility for maintaining AEDs and ensure that staff with ready access to these are certified in CPR+AED.
The AEDs should be easily accessible for public use. This is one way companies and building owners signify commitment to the public good. Companies may also wish to sponsor AED deployment in other locations.
FURTHER INFO:
Guidelines on the implementation of CPR+AED at public facilities can be found on the NRC website www.nrcsingapore.com
