CLARK FREEPORT—Top executives from the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) have underscored the importance of deploying lifesaving gadgets called automated external defibrillator (AED) in strategic public places.
"We are calling on the lawmakers to pass the AED Bill as we are keen on giving the CPR-ReadyPh 2023 a major push," PHA National President Dr. Ronald Cuyco said.
Administering AED on a cardiac arrest patient increases survival by 30 percent.
Cuyco said that PHA National with its 18 chapters all over the is gearing up for the Nationwide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR Awareness Campaign this year, with the theme "ZapPInas AED sa Pamayanan, Dugtong Buhay yan!" CPR Awareness Campaign.
"PHA is urging all local government units (LGUs) to put the procurement of public AEDs on their list of top priorities. As PHA members based in Central Luzon, we are offering our expertise", Dr. Rayzen Canono Lim, PHA Central Luzon Chapter president, said.
The CPR-ReadyPh Campaign, launched in 2015, is an initiative of the PHA.
Among its milestones are the yearly Nationwide Mass CPR Trainings conducted every July 17 in observance of the CPR Law or RA 10871 (an act that mandates compulsory basic life support training in public and private schools) which lapsed into law on July 17, 2016.
In the same year, PHA went to Congress to push for the AED Law.
Between 2016 and 2022, lawmakers in the Senate and Congress have filed similar versions of the AED Bill.
In 2022, Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid filed Senate Bill No. 2474 (which aims to mandate the placement of Automated External Defibrillators or AEDs in public spaces) like government buildings, offices, courts, schools, public parks and markets.
This measure seeks to help in the survival of patients with heart diseases.
An AED is an easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and if needed deliver an electrical shock or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm.
Emergency treatment includes CPR and shocks to the heart with an AED device. Survival is possible with fast within 4 to 6 minutes, appropriate CPR and/or use of an AED and medical care.
PHA Central Luzon recently inducted its 2023 to 2024 Officers' at Park Inn by Radisson in Clark Freeport.
During the induction, Cuyco said PHA Flagship projects include (a) CPR-READY.PH and AED Awareness Campaign; revival of the CPR on Wheels & Wings (CWW); (b) RESEARCH/Registries/Studies; (c) more mini heart centers outside Luzon; (d) Philhealth collaboration; and (e) stronger PHA-media alliance.
