THE Selangor government is reviewing guidelines and consulting stakeholders on the possibility of making Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) mandatory in public spaces across the state.
Chair of the State Public Health and Environment Committee, Jamaliah Jamaluddin, said the move aims to enhance emergency response and public readiness to handle sudden cardiac arrests.
“This matter needs fine-tuning to ensure accessibility and proper education is delivered to the people of Selangor,” she said in a statement on Sunday.
“I believe there are those among us who don’t know what an AED is and more worrisome, should they not know how to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is an emergency treatment we can do to save lives while AED indirectly adds to the survival rate when done with CPR.”
Since February, the Selangor government has deployed 56 AED units in state government buildings, local councils, and subsidiary premises as part of a broader effort to equip public spaces with emergency first-aid tools.
Jamaliah emphasised that having AEDs on hand could be critical in saving lives, as cardiac arrests can strike without warning.
“The heart can stop beating at any time, to anyone, regardless of background, age or health situation.
“In many cases, the chance of survival does not depend on doctors or nurses but us as the public who just happened to be at the location when such an incident occurs to change the scenario,” she added.
The initiative is part of Selangor’s wider public health agenda, which also includes strengthening CPR training and community awareness programmes. - April 27, 2025
