PENANG Botanic Gardens has become the first park in the country to be recognised as a ‘Heart Safe Park’ after five units of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were installed at the popular recreational park this morning.
To equip the public with the knowledge of emergency response, a total of 42 units of AEDs have been installed at various locations in the state, including those set up at the Botanic Gardens today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present to launch the remarkable event, was proud that Penang has become the first state to have a ‘Heart Safe Park’.
“The Botanic Gardens, which is one of the popular recreational parks in the state, is a place in dire need of AEDs as it will provide emergency response when needed.
“The AEDs (five units) are installed every 500 metres apart in case any emergency arises.
“We have plans to expand this initiative to other spots, especially the tourism hotspots,” he said in his speech during the event.
Chow expressed his sincere gratitude to the Penang Heart Safe Society (PHSS) for their commitment to ensuring society is safe.
“The state has always been supportive to the initiative by PHSS as people need to be equipped with the knowledge of saving precious lives when needed,” he said.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said that seven lives have been saved from 2018 until 2021, thanks to AEDs.
“This shows that AEDs have managed to save people’s lives and that’s why we need to understand their proper usage.
“Penang Botanic Gardens has been chosen as the first ‘Heart Safe Park’ as it is the people’s favourite place for recreational activities,” he said.
PHSS chairman Dr Luah Lean Wah said that 30,000 people have been trained to be equipped with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) knowledge using the AEDs since 2015.
“We hope we can cover more areas in the state,” she said.
Also present was Penang Botanic Gardens director Nur Syazwani Ismail.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Law Suun Ting