ALERT, an NGO that works towards a better emergency response ecosystem, has initiated a capacity-building measure, with the installation of a publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED) in association with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
The life saving device will be under the aegis of the GCC, and the public also having access to it in case of a life-threatening road traffic accident or an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest that could happen in public spaces in the city. The device installation was inaugurated by Priya Rajan, Mayor of GCC and Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, IAS, Commissioner of GCC on World First-Aid Day (Sept.9) at the Ripon Building.
Shankar Lal Kumawat, IAS – Additional Commissioner (Health) and Joint Commissioner (Works), and M.Jagadeesan – City Health Officer, and Dr.Shantakumari – Health Committee Chairman, were the special guests. On the special occasion, ALERT also trained 100-150 staff members from across the zones of GCC in First Response, performing CPR and basic life support.
Presiding over the event, V.M.Muralidharan, Chairman, ALERT said, “We are extremely grateful to the GCC for embracing this ‘first of its kind’ initiative of ALERT to build life-saving capacity of this beautiful city of Chennai and its people. We plan to jointly identify public areas with more footfalls, to install more of this life-saving device soon.”
Emphasising on the importance of the occasion, Rajesh R.Trivedi, Co-Founder and Managing Trustee, ALERT said, “Chennai has been recording a large number of people succumbing to cardiac arrests. The AED, if available and used immediately at the scene where anyone collapses with no adequate vitals, provides a significant opportunity for revival. The device is pre-calibrated as per international standards and can be used easily by anyone following the voice prompts. ALERT will also train the community represented by shopkeepers, drivers, police personnel etc. in and around such installations in basic life support to save more lives in the city.”
Visit www.alert.ngo to learn more about ALERT.
