Govt studies feasibility of setting up heart care devices in public places

NEW DELHI: To ensure quick medical attention to patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrests in public places, the Delhi government is planning to install automated external defibrillators (AED) — a medical device designed to analyse the heart rhythm and restore it to normal through controlled electric shocks — in crowded areas like bus stops, marketplaces and railway stations, with officials saying that teams will soon begin a mapping exercise to identify possible locations to install the devices.

A senior official of the Delhi government’s health department said that the idea is to ensure basic cardiac life support to a patient in the case of a medical emergency before they are hospitalised.

“We will be installing portable AEDS with detailed manuals that will enlist the proper way to use this device by common people with ease in case of a medical emergency. These will essentially be like the fire equipment that you see in malls and office spaces,” the health official said.

The health department exercise was prompted by directions issued by the Delhi high court, asking the government to set up proper medical equipment and trained teams in public places to provide basic and advanced cardiac life support in order to prevent deaths due to heart attacks.

Health experts welcomed the move. Dr Shrikanth Srinivasan, HOD of critical care medicine at Human Care Medical Charitable Trust-manipal Hospital, said, “These devices require minimal training for operating and are essential in improving outcomes from sudden cardiac arrests.”