MANILA, (PNA) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced it strongly supports moves to install defibrillator in all buildings and crowded places that could be readily used during emergencies.
The defibrillator is a life-saving machine that gives the heart an electric shock in some cases of cardiac arrest.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino Friday said defibrillator should be readily available so that it could be used by anyone who has the knowledge of operating it in times of emergency.
Tolentino said the Philippine Heart Association has proposed that all commercial establishments, buildings and even crowded areas should have defibrillators that could be used when someone suffers cardiac arrest.
“Like fire extinguishers, defibrillators should be available everywhere because they help in saving life,” he added.
Tolentino said all MMDA traffic constables will be trained by doctors from PHA on how to use the machine so that they could effectively used it during emergency.
Dr. Eugene Reyes, PHA President said traffic enforcers should be trained about basic life support for them to know how to respond to such emergency.
“In case there will be emergency, they would know how to respond immediately and properly,” he added.
Reyes stressed that once the person’s heart stop beating, it should be immediately resuscitated.
The defibrillator, he added, could be used by somebody knowledgeable in the absence of a doctor.
Reyes stated that traffic enforcers could use the defibrillator in case there will be cases of cardiac arrest in roads.
Traffic enforcers are also being trained in performing hands-on CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) especially during emergency in thoroughfares.
CPR is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies, including heart attack or near drowning.