Beijing subway stations start installing defibrillators

BEIJING: The city plans to install automated external defibrillator (AED) devices in the city’s 104 stations on seven subway lines by the end of this year in case of passenger emergencies, reported the Beijing Youth Daily.

At present, 22 stations on Line 1, and stations with massive passenger flows on Line 4, have completed the AED installation.

By the end of 2022, all of the city’s rail transit stations will be equipped with the lifesaving devices, reported the newspaper yesterday, citing sources from local transport and health authorities.

An AED is an emergency device that can automatically recognise abnormal heart rhythms and deliver an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. The use of AEDs has a much higher success rate in rescuing patients with cardiac arrest than the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure.

It is easy to use after training, and the correct use of an AED and CPR within four minutes of a cardiac event can greatly improve the effect of pre-hospital first aid.

First aid training has also been carried out in subway companies.

More than 80% of subway personnel will be trained to receive a certificate for first aid so as to correctly use AEDs, the newspaper reported.

In recent years, more AEDs are available in the country’s public places, such as supermarkets, cinemas and airports.

In December 2019, a draft law on promoting China’s basic medical and health care stipulates that there must be necessary first-aid equipment or facilities in public places.

Also, an action plan for 20192030, issued to implement the country’s Healthy China initiative and promote people’s health, urged medical institutions to provide first aid training for the public and promised to improve medical facilities in public places, including installing AEDs. — Xinhua