Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ7: Automatic external defibrillators
Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Sophie Leung and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today
(February 22):
Question:
According to the information of the Department of Health, about 73,300 people
were hospitalised and 6,414 died because of heart disease in 2009. Moreover,
studies have revealed that the use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs)
within the first 10 minutes of heart attack (i.e. sudden cardiac arrest) can
increase the success rate of emergency rescue of patients suffering from heart
attack; and quite a number of regions (e.g. the United States and Taiwan, etc.)
have also vigorously promoted the wider use of AEDs. In this connection, will
the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have any policy to promote AEDs, encourage more
private organisations to purchase AEDs, and enhance the public's knowledge of
AEDs; and
(b) whether the authorities will take the initiative to provide guidelines to
recommend that AEDs and other first aid facilities should be installed at
designated public places (e.g. large shopping malls, stadiums, sports grounds
and MTR stations, etc.)?
Reply:
President,
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are devices used to perform cardiac
resuscitation on patients. Medical and first-aid researches have shown that with
the simultaneous use of an AED in the course of performing cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) on a patient suffering from heart attack, the survival rate
of the patient could be increased. At present, all ambulances of the Fire
Services Department (FSD) are equipped with AEDs. The Hospital Authority has
also acquired AEDs in the public hospitals and out-patient department/clinics
for first aid treatment. Before using AEDs on patients, consideration must be
given to the patients' prevailing circumstances and attention must be paid to
the operation procedures. In this connection, anyone using AEDs must first
receive training on first aid and operation of the device, and should send the
patients to hospitals for further medical treatment as quickly as possible.
(a) and (b) The Government has all along promoted the public's awareness of
first aid treatment for heart attack through various means. FSD has provided
free CPR and automated defibrillation training to the public since 2007 and
encouraged institutions to install AEDs in public places. More than 7,200 people
have received training provided by FSD and acquired the two basic theories of
the first aid skills and knowledge on the use of relevant device. People who
have received training include staff of property management companies, airport
security personnel, staff of residential care homes for the elderly, government
staff, staff in the hotel industry, MTR staff, staff of theme parks, staff of
media organisations, staff of large charitable organisations, scouts in Hong
Kong, fire safety ambassadors and civilian staff of FSD.
The Department of Health (DH) organised 74 Basic Life Support Provider Courses
covering the proper use of AEDs for 577 healthcare personnel in 2011 through its
Professional Development and Quality Assurance Service. In addition, various
organisations in Hong Kong also offer training courses on CPR and automated
external defibrillation to the public. In 2011, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance
organised 814 training courses on the use of AEDs for about 11,090 people, while
Hong Kong Red Cross offered 139 relevant training courses in which a total of
845 people participated.
At present, AEDs have been installed at a number of places in the territory,
including office buildings, theme parks, schools, large shopping malls, private
housing estates, private clubhouses, commercial buildings and nursing homes. The
Government will continue to raise the public's awareness of first aid treatment
for heart attack through different channels.
Ends/Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:59
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