AEDs may be required in new development projects

The Star

2 days ago

A guideline is being developed in Selangor to ensure new developments are equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for emergency situations.
State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said they were looking at other states that had adopted a similar guideline, including Penang.
'If we manage to enforce a clear standard on where AEDs must be available, it becomes easier for people to recognise and locate them wherever they may be.
'We are exploring how it can be implemented in phases,' she said after the handover of an AED unit from Rotary Club of Ara Damansara to Masjid Al-Makmuriah in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara in Petaling Jaya.
Jamaliah said Selangor was gathering feedback from all local councils, as each might have different processes and licensing requirements.
The guidelines, she said, would apply to new buildings that fell under relevant categories, such as sports venues, public parks and places of worship.
'There have been many incidents that occur in private sports venues such as pickleball and badminton courts, so we want safety measures like AED installation to be in place.
'Heart attacks remain the leading cause of death in Malaysia.
'Every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or AED assistance reduces survival chances by about 7%.'
Stating that ambulances might take five to 10 minutes to arrive at the location of the emergency, she added: 'There needs to be an initiative to help the victim before the ambulance arrives.'
Jamaliah thanked some commercial premises, such as malls, that have installed AEDs on their own initiative.
An AED is a portable, battery-powered device that delivers an electric shock to a person in cardiac arrest, to resuscitate the heart into beating again.
When used in conjunction with CPR, it can significantly increase the chances of survival.
The handover ceremony also featured a demonstration of proper usage of AED along with CPR.
Jamaliah, who is Bandar Utama assemblyman, said the mosque was an ideal location for the AED as it was a key gathering point for the community.
Rotary Club of Ara Damansara president Siraanjivi Ganasan said the handover concluded its 'A Lifesaver in Every Home' programme, which sought to train more Malaysians in CPR and use of AEDs.
Masjid Al-Makmuriah chairman Ustaz Mhd Nadzrui Mhd Tajudin said that in the spirit of National Day, it was a reminder that saving lives transcended religion or ethnicity.