The First in Seoul Districts... Available for Events and Personal Rental
Permanent Training on CPR and Automated External Defibrillator Usage
Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) will start lending automated external defibrillators (AEDs) free of charge to small organizations, events, and individuals from next month.
The free AED lending program is designed to save the precious lives of residents facing emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest. This program is the first of its kind implemented by a Seoul autonomous district, actively reflecting residents' policy proposals.
An AED is a device that delivers an electric shock to a patient in cardiac arrest to help restore the heart's normal rhythm. It is easy to use even for the general public without medical knowledge. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) together with using an AED within the golden time of 4 minutes can increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients by more than three times.
The free AED lending program is characterized by lending AEDs not only for local festivals, school events, and small-scale events but also to organizations and individuals free of charge. Additionally, the district plans to ensure AEDs are available at events with large numbers of participants to respond effectively to emergencies.
The lending period is up to two weeks, including holidays, and storage cases can also be rented if needed. The district will provide CPR and AED usage training to residents who borrow the devices to help them respond appropriately in emergency situations.
Residents who wish to borrow an AED can apply in person at the Medical Department of the Gangbuk-gu Public Health Center. When borrowing for an event, applicants must bring supporting documents such as the event schedule.
Meanwhile, Gangbuk-gu offers regular CPR and AED usage training at the Emergency Medical Education Center of the Suyu Health Branch. Residents interested in participating or learning can inquire at the Emergency Medical Education Center for more information.
Mayor Lee Soon-hee said, “We hope many residents will show interest and apply for the free AED lending service,” adding, “We will continue to make more meticulous efforts to ensure the healthy and safe lives of our residents.”
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