Abu Dhabi: Emergency heart defibrillators will be installed at popular public places across the country with the first being located at the capital’s Marina Mall, the Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday.
The second device will be placed in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and employees at both outlets will receive training on how to operate the resuscitation device in case of emergencies.
When used properly, defibrillators provide a sudden electric shock to the heart, jolting it back to pump blood around the body and, critically, to the brain.
Worldwide, death rates from heart failure have gone down from 90 per cent to 30 per cent after defibrillators were installed in public places and within easy reach. In Abu Dhabi, the death rate due to heart failure was 61 per cent in 2010, 70 per cent in 2011, amd going down to 63 per cent last year.
Major General Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, said that the emergency and safety department is ready to train Emiratis and residents on how to use the devices in a bid to lower the risk of death due to heart failure outside hospitals. The official added that authorities also intend to raise the level of awareness on first-aid training generally.
“The UAE is one of the first countries in the region to popularise the use of these devices after its efficiency has been proved in places that have adopted it,” he said. “It is vital that the defibrillator is used within five minutes after cardiac arrest as, with every minute, the chances of resuscitation are reduced by 10 per cent and the dangers of having blood flow to the brain compromised are magnified.”
But the devices are also smart — they won’t provide electric shocks until they detect the heart is failing, and can’t be used on people who are conscious or have a strong pulse.
