The city’s park management center has deployed 60 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public parks across the city. Meanwhile, district-level parks are mulling introduction of AEDs, according to Shenzhen Evening News.
According to a previous report, a man fell unconscious while jogging in Xiangmi Park. Fortunately, he was saved by an AED in the park’s tourist’s information center with the help of security staff and four citizens.
From June to September last year, the park management center installed 15 AEDs in six parks, including Lianhua Hill Park and Litchi Park, and organized emergency trainings for 80 park staffers. Forty-five more AEDs had been introduced to the city’s public parks as of June this year to further expand the machines’ coverage.
At present, AEDs are available in many parks, including Shenzhen Bay Park, Litchi Park, Bijia Hill Park, Cuizhu Park and Shenzhen Children’s Park.
This summer vacation, residents can search for the nearest AED location while strolling in parks via the “AED导航” miniprogram on WeChat.
It is said that cardiac arrests outside hospitals is the main cause of death among patients. According to a report, almost 80 percent of such patients suffered ventricular fibrillation where electric defibrillation is still the most effective rescue method. AEDs can help increase the survival rate to 50 to 70 percent, according to the report.
According to the Shenzhen Center for Prehospital Care, Shenzhen has been equipped with more than 5,500 AEDs in public areas and has the highest AED coverage in China. In the next five to 10 years, Shenzhen will reach the international standard of having 100 AEDs per 100,000 people, the center said.
An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electricity which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.