Yangcheon-gu Installs Automated External Defibrillators at 30 Senior Centers to Prevent Cardiac Arrest in Elderly

Theory and Practical Training for Seniors Also Provided
Total of 472 Units Installed and Operated, Permanent Training Available

Residents receiving CPR training at Yangcheon Life Safety Experience Education Center. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the 13th that it will expand the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to 30 senior centers in the district and provide training on their use and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to ensure prompt response during emergencies involving elderly people at high risk of cardiac arrest.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is an emergency device that delivers an electric shock to patients in cardiac arrest to help the heart resume normal function. It is recognized as a key emergency tool that increases the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients.

However, although more than half of acute cardiac arrest patients are elderly aged 70 or older, the distribution rate of AEDs in senior centers is low, and since these centers are not mandatory installation sites, improvements are needed.

This year, the district has begun additional AED installations in senior centers to enable faster response to emergencies such as cardiac arrest occurrences. Through a demand survey, 30 senior centers were selected (9 in Mok-dong, 5 in Sinwol-dong, and 16 in Sinjeong-dong), with installation planned to be completed by next month.

So far, the district has focused on expanding AEDs in multi-use facilities, apartment complexes with over 500 households, and public health medical institutions, currently operating 472 AEDs across 355 locations. Regular training will be conducted to ensure proper usage, with capacity-building education for about 300 managers scheduled next month at Galsan Culture and Arts Center.

Additionally, each facility has designated managers who undergo mandatory training, and the permanent training center, Yangcheon Life Safety Experience Education Center, provides education on AED use and CPR. The locations of AED installations can be checked on the ‘Find AED’ section of the Emergency Medical Portal website.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae stated, “Early response is essential in cardiac arrest, and using an AED can increase survival rates by more than four times. We hope this additional installation will help save the precious lives of elderly people in emergency situations, and we will do our best in training and management.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.