Senator Robbie Gallagher has written to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly seeking the establishment of an easily accessed national database for defibrillators in the community.
Senator Gallagher says that communities and businesses across the length and breadth of the country have fundraised and installed defibrillators or AEDs in sports halls, schools, community facilities, towns and villages in every county.
“When someone has a cardiac arrest, the clock starts ticking. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival. But many defibrillators are not used or are not used in time because emergency services or first aiders on the scene don’t know where they are or how to access them. It is vital therefore that such information be made easily and quickly available when needed,” said Senator Gallagher.
“Community organisations, councils and individuals are to be commended for the
tremendous efforts that have been put in over recent years to fund and maintain the
installation of AEDs. These defibrillators can save lives, so it is vital that once installed,
people should know where they are or be able to locate them quickly when the need
arises,” said Senator Gallagher.
“These devices are practically fool-proof and easy to operate but they must be maintained and regularly checked. Many, but not all, have been notified to the Ambulance Service. This is very important as access to an AED in advance of the arrival of an ambulance could make all the difference,” he said.
Referencing the success of the COVID-19 App, Senator Gallagher suggested that there is no reason as to why an AED app could not be developed just as quickly and register every AED to it. The Senator also explained that the UK already has a national defibrillator network, and it is proving to be extremely important.
“In the UK they have found that only one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac
arrest and that defibrillators are currently being used in less than 1 in 20 out-of-hospital
emergency cardiac incidents. The new “Circuit” system contacts local people with regular
reminders about the upkeep of the defibrillator so that, when needed, it is fit for use.”
“I believe we could go one better with an accessible app connecting us all, emergency
personnel, medics and the public to a countrywide system of AED devices, because these devices mean that anyone can save a life,” he concluded.
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