Madurai division of Southern Railway has added a life-saving equipment Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) at Madurai railway station that could treat the most common cause of heart attack in a simple and effective way.
Founder of Active Heart Foundation A. Mathavan donated it and it was received by Additional Divisional Railway Manager O.P. Shaw in the presence of Chief Medical Superintendent G. Sahoo on Tuesday.
“Ventricular fibrillation is a common cause of heart attack which can be successfully treated and life of the patient saved with AED,” said Dr. Mathavan, Director, Cardiology and Cath Labs, Velammal Speciality Hospital.
Ventricular fibrillation is a condition wherein the heart starts shaking rapidly, instead of pumping blood. “Using the AED to provide electric shock to the patient can set the heartbeat right immediately,” he said. Death rate of people suffering from ventricular fibrillation which was around 30% before the advent of AED in the US has come down to 5%, he added.
The ₹ 1-lakh worth equipment will be kept at the office of Deputy Station Manager for emergency usage on railway passengers and others who suffer heart attack on the railway premises.
Stating that the equipment was easy to be used even by a layman with minimum training, Dr. Mathavan said that training would be provided to railway officials, staff, porters and others who are usually present at the railway station.
Mr. Shaw said that he had asked the medical department to formulate a plan for providing training to the railway staff on the use of the equipment.
“Even children should be trained in using such equipment for attending to emergency situations for family members even before help comes from neighbours,” he said.
Dr. Sahoo said that the equipment had high potential to save lives.
Active Heart Foundation has already donated this equipment to Madurai Corporation. Station Director Sachin Kumar was present
A demonstration on life support using mannequins on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and usage of AED was held.
