ILOILO CITY —The ambulances of the 12 Iloilo provincial government-run hospitals are now equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AED).
Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. turned over 12 units of AED to the chiefs of hospitals on Thursday.
AED is a portable electronic device that is used in cases of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. Through the application of electricity, AED stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.
Each device costs PHP125,000 according to Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, concurrent chief of the Hospital Management Office (HMO).
He said these AEDs were procured in compliance with the Department of Health’s licensing requirement for hospitals.
Hospital personnel especially those assigned in the ambulances will be trained on how to use the device, said Banias.
“This will enhance the capability of our hospital personnel to save lives, especially during emergency situations,” he added.
Paz Vencer Calopiz, chief of the Aleosan District Hospital, said the devices are really important in saving the lives of their patients.
“It is really needed that each ambulance should be equipped with this so that anytime the patient will experience cardiac arrest during transport, they will be revived using that device,” she said.
Since 2010, the provincial government has already spent more than PHP1 billion since 2010 for the hospital upgrading program which include improvement of hospital infrastructures, acquisition of state-of-the art equipment, procurement of medicines and other medical supplies, and hiring of more personnel. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
