Philips Healthcare India is now working to install 700  Automated External Defibilirators (AEDs) in public places. It aims to conduct over 150 trainings and awareness camps at airports, schools and corporate offices to ensure preparedness in dealing with Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCA).

An AED is a portable device which  automatically diagnose an SCA, and help save life with the press of a button.  In 2013, it  installed 500 AEDs at major airports in India, domestic airlines, luxury hotels, offices amongst others. This year, it will install over 700 AEDs covering  as ACC Cement and ITC hotels apart from  Jet Airways, SpiceJet and SriLankan Airlines. It is  also looking at ensuring AED presence at upscale restaurants, shopping malls and even beaches in Goa.

With over 660,000 deaths occurring annually in India alone with SCA, the survival rate is less than 1 per cent as emergency medical services.

According to Dr. Talat Halim, director,  Emergency &Trauma, Fortis Memorial Hospital, Gurgaon AED and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) combined can save lives to a large extent. We recently saw this at the Mumbai International Airport where rapid treatment with an AED restored the heart to a normal rhythm and saved a man’s life. We have seen an increase in AEDs in aircraft and at airports where it is mandatory but an AED is still not mandatory in metros, malls, cinema halls or even ambulances.

“The instances of deaths due to Sudden Cardiac Arrests (SCA) have been on the rise. Long working hours, hectic lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits are the main causes behind rising incidences of SCA”, said Jitesh Mathur, senior director, Philips Healthcare, India.