Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a measure seeking to mandate the placement of automated external defibrillators (AED) in public spaces such as government buildings, offices, courts, schools, public parks and markets.

Lapid said the bill aims to provide immediate, life-saving, response to any person suffering from a cardiac arrest and improve their chances of survival. 

Heart disease remains one of the top causes of death even with the outbreak of COVID-19, the senator noted.

“Meron na po tayong teknolohiya, gaya po ng AED, upang iligtas ang mga taong nakaranas ng cardiac arrest at bigyan sila ng mabuting pagkakataon na magkaroon ng normal na buhay matapos ang insidente (We already have a technology, like AED, to save the life of a person experiencing a cardiac arrest and provide them a chance to have a normal life after an incident),” Lapid said of Senate Bill No. 1324. 

“Kailangan lamang ilagay natin ito sa mga lugar kung saan madali po silang maabot upang magbigay ng agarang lunas (We just need to make this available in places where everyone can have easy access to immediate relief),” he explained.

An AED is a portable, life-saving device designed to help people who experience sudden cardiac arrest; its system includes accessories, such as a battery and pad electrodes that are necessary to detect and interpret an electrocardiogram and deliver an electric shock. 

The bill suggests the placement of AED units in public spaces, such as in government buildings, and transport terminals; and in private places, such as hotels, resorts, malls, condominiums, and similar places.

Likewise, the measure gives guidelines such as requiring prior Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for, and periodic inspection of AED units. 

The bill also provides a training program to be led by the Department of Health (DOH) for the proper use and maintenance of AED units, along with regular first-aid training.

Also under the bill, the completion of the AED training program will be made a requirement of the emergency response or first-aid teams of each establishment before they are given the unit/s.