GEORGE TOWN, April 2 — Penang, through its city councils, will be installing more Automated External Defibrillator (AED) throughout the state this year.

State exco for youth, sports and health Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said this year, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will be installing an additional 71 AED devices in public spaces.

“Similarly, the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) also did a procurement of AED devices to be deployed in public spaces this year,” he said in a press conference after a Heroes for Life handover ceremony in Komtar today.

He said because of Penang’s geographical size, as the second smallest state in the country, it is easier to ensure there all AED devices available in public spaces.

“It’s because of this that we can proudly say we are one of the states with the highest survival rates in terms of sudden cardiac arrest and deployment of AED devices, at about eight per cent,” he said.

He added that the survival rate for the whole of Malaysia is about one per cent.

In addition to AED devices installed by the city councils, he said there are also AED devices installed by private corporations and developers.

Gooi said both city councils have also made it a requirement for AEDs to be installed for any residential development projects.

“We have legislated it to be part of the planning process for residential projects to ensure the availability of AED devices in the state,” he said.

Earlier, ZOLL Medical Corporation’s APAC director Shenny Tan and Gooi presented certificates to Koay Hean Wei and Ong Cheong Pin for using an AED to save the life of Indonesian tourist, Tumin, back in December last year.

On December 2, Tumin, 62, who was accompanied by his son, Windy Wijaya, collapsed from cardiac arrest at the Lebuh Cecil Market.

A doctor, who was present, had performed CPR on him while Ong immediately went to retrieve the AED device installed at the market.

Koay took over performing CPR on Tumin using the AED device until the ambulance arrived.

Gooi said the actions of the three men saved Tumin’s life and they deserved to be recognised as heroes.

He said they were unable to identify the doctor who first responded to help Tumin.

Gooi said this case highlighted the importance of having AEDs in public spaces.

“It is also important to learn CPR and how to use the AED to save lives,” he said.

ZOLL Medical also presented an AED device to St John Ambulance Malaysia in Penang under its Heroes for Life initiative today.

Tan said in the initiative, for every life saved using a ZOLL Medical AED, the company will donate an AED device to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) selected by the survivor and rescuer.

“Today’s AED presentation to St John’s Ambulance will be donated under Tumin and Koay’s names,” she said.

She said the Heroes for Life initiative is a worldwide programme and to date, thousands of lives have been saved using ZOLL Medical’s AED devices worldwide.

“Through the Heroes for Life initiative, we aim not only to recognise these everyday heroes, but also to ensure more AEDs are placed in communities where they can make a difference,” she said.

Tan said the AED Plus by ZOLL Medical allows rescuers to see and hear how well they are performing the rate and depth of chest compressions during CPR.

She said the particular device at Lebuh Cecil Market was deployed three times since it was installed more than two years ago.