AN air passenger who suffered sudden heart attack at Shenzhen International Airport was rescued in 30 minutes thanks to timely treatment using the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) installed in a public area of the airport.
The 36-year-old passenger suddenly collapsed at around 8:55 a.m. Tuesday at security check Gate 34, and the airport medical team immediately initiated emergency rescue when they arrived at the scene at 9:01 a.m.
The patient was unconscious and didn’t respond.
On the way to Bao’an Central Hospital, the medical team used the AED and brought him back to life before the ambulance arrived at the hospital at 9:24 a.m.
Time is of the essence when saving patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.
The average response time for first responders is eight to 12 minutes. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival is reduced by approximately 10 percent.
According to the hospital, the patient was in critical condition when the ambulance arrived at the hospital.
If the patient hadn’t received proper treatment on the way, according to the hospital, the patient might have been in a more seriously condition and could have lost his life.
Shenzhen airport, as one of the city’s public service platforms, had 85 AEDs installed at its terminal and ground traffic center. More than 400 airport employees have undergone AED training and are capable offering emergency aid.
This year, the city plans to install 500 AEDs in public venues and train caretakers at a ratio of 10 first aid responders for every one AED installed. (Han Ximin)
Some AEDs have been installed at enterprises like China Southern Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines Shenzhen port, Foxconn plant and Huawei Technologies, institutions like Shenzhen police vehicles registration and administration offices, Qinghua University Shenzhen Graduate Institute, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Foreign Language Schools, and neighborhoods like Meilinyicun housing estate.
Statistics from Shenzhen Medical Aid Center show that among the patients who were rescued by the city’s emergency treatment network comprised of 75 hospitals, 1,897 died of sudden cardiac arrest in 2014. The number increased to 2,058 in 2015.
The city’s health and family planning commission has set aside an earmark to purchase 5,000 AEDs during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).
