By Foo Ming Li
The Penang state government has launched the Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) in Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi which is the first Chinese clan house to have installed the defibrillator on 23 October 2020.
Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi Chairman, Alan Cheah said the clan house has 620 members and 40 percent of them are senior citizens. Cheah is worried that cardiac arrest is affecting not only the senior citizens but almost everyone from any age groups nowadays.
“The unhealthy lifestyle practised by the public and general aversion from exercises are one of the major contributors towards the risks of cardiac arrest and other sorts of chronic illnesss,” he explained.
Cheah said Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a priority learning for everyone. He said the clan house trustee and clan members are taking proactive measures to install a PAD in the clan house premise to prepare for such an event.
Back in 2015, the Penang government launched the Heart Safe Programme, an initiative to make Penang become a safer state. During the same year, the state government had organised the first Mass CPR Carnival Event that was held in Han Chiang High School.
“The purpose of the Mass CPR programme was to teach the public the basics of CPR and the correct method of using the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine to save a person suffering from sudden cardiac arrest while waiting for professional medical help to arrive,” said Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Chief Minister.
Chow adds there are over 100 PADs installed in public places such as schools, public parks, Penang Hill, government and private buildings across Penang island and mainland.
He hopes other clan houses can emulate Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi by installing the PAD in its premises to train the clan members in CPR skills from time-to-time so that the safety of the other clan members, public individuals, and tourists are ensured as well.
Other honourable figures like State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee Chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, KOMTAR Assemblyman Teh Lai Heng and Georgetown World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) General Manager Dr Ang Ming Chee were present at the launching ceremony.
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