Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses and treats sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA

First real estate company to allocate condominium space for ‘life saving’ AEDs to enhance the life quality of over 25,000 families residing in AP projects

AP campaigns to create awareness among Thais of preparedness in dealing with life-threatening “sudden cardiac arrest”, the third leading cause of death in Thailand after cancer and accidents

AP (Thailand) Public Company Limited, the leading developer of residential properties for urbanites and condominiums along mass rapid transit lines, today held a press conference to announce its social campaign ‘The Smallest Space to Save Lives’ which builds on its idea of promoting good quality of life.  The campaign underlines the company’s effort to bring better quality living to a broader society as it raises public awareness of the threat from “sudden cardiac arrest’, or SCA, which can claim lives regardless of gender and age. 

The company will proceed to install automated external defibrillators (AED) at AP condominium complexes that have been delivered as well as at other condominium projects – totaling almost 40 projects.  The campaign will benefit over 25,000 families residing in condominiums.  The company will also join a campaign to pass on basic life support knowledge to the public to create awareness of the importance to take proper and immediate action to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).  Statistics have shown that SCA is the third leading cause of death (after cancer and accidental deaths) which accounts for 54,000 deaths annually in Thailand (6 deaths per hour on average).   AP has started installing AED equipment at condominiums under the management of AP teams.  It plans to complete installation work at 40 delivered projects.

At the press conference, AP (Thailand) PCL led by Mr. Vittakarn Chandavimol, Chief Business Group – Condominiums, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Dr. Sophon Krisanarangsan, Chairman of Resuscitation Foundation and Advisor to the Thai Resuscitation Council, the Heart Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage as well as Thai Secom Security Co., Ltd., presided over the kick-off campaign to share this basic life support knowledge with the public.  In addition, under ‘The Smallest Space to Save Life’ campaign, AP encourages society to turn small section of space into a lifeline for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. AP’s ultimate goal is to build a sustainable good quality of life for Thai society starting with small communities in AP residential projects. AP has also donated AEDs to Ban Bang Khae Social Welfare Development Center, Sathorn Pier and Thonburi Civil Defence Volunteers Center to benefit the public during sudden cardiac arrest emergencies.

Mr. Vittakarn Chandavimol, Chief Business Group – Condominiums, AP (Thailand) PCL, said, “Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to people of any gender and age without any advance warning.  It is vitally important that SAC victims receive immediate help during this life and death situation. AP attach great importance to creating value in the smallest of spaces to improve and enhance the quality of life. We have allocated 0.1 square metre as a life-saving area in our condominium projects.  The AED equipment provides first aid to those suffering sudden cardiac arrest.  We receive basic data support from our partner Mitsubishi Estate Group of Japan where AEDs are a standard life-saving equipment that can be found in crowded areas such as public spaces and residential areas. Altogether Japan boasts over 600,000 AEDs – the most in the world.”

“AP currently has almost 40 completely built condominium projects that are under the management of Smart Service and Management, specially formed to manage AP condominium developments.  Since there are over 25,000 families under our care, we did hesitate to install AEDs in our projects to provide our residents peace of mind and a secure quality of life. AED installation continues at 40 projects under the AP Group.  For new condominiums slated for completion in 2017 onwards, we have allocated the space for the life-saving equipment,” Mr. Vittakarn said.

“All the 40 AED-installed condominium projects will be supervised by 300 officers from Smart Service and Management.  All of them have been trained in basic life support by Thai Secom Security and the Thai Resuscitation Council of the Heart Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage.  Each condominium complex will have officers on duty 24 hours a day to help residents who might suffer sudden cardiac arrest,” Mr. Vittakarn added.

Sudden cardiac arrest, or SAC, is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It can happen to anybody, even those with no history of heart disease or any other illnesses. When blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, SAC victims will die unless treated within minutes. The brain that lacks blood will stop functioning immediately causing the victim to pass out in 10 seconds.  Unconscious patients should receive first aid within 4 minutes or the brain will be damaged. Better still, If the people around the victim are experienced in the use of AED equipment, they can alternate treatment with CPR, and prevent the sudden cardiac arrest victim from dying.

“Statistics in Japan and the US show that sudden cardiac arrest victims aided within 4 minutes after the condition strikes can increase survival rate by 50%, with a combined method of alternating the use of AED equipment with CPR. With only CPR, the survival rate is reduced to 27%.”

https://prachatai.com/ journal/2017/02/70049                         

Pol. Maj. Gen. Dr. Sophon Krisanarangsan, Chairman of the Resuscitation Foundation and Advisor to the Thai Resuscitation Council, the Heart Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, said, “Our study has found that since sudden cardiac arrest often occurs outside the hospital, it will be difficult for the patient to reach the hospital within 4 minutes, the time it takes to promptly save an SAC victim.  Therefore, to reduce death from sudden cardiac arrest, the general public should be trained in life-saving techniques to allow them to provide immediate first aid. Ideally, AED equipment should be installed at points readily accessible to all.

“On behalf of the Resuscitation Foundation and the Thai Resuscitation Council of the Heart Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, I admire AP (Thailand) for playing a part in contributing to the quality of life for people in Thailand with its initiative in installing AED equipment in its projects.  This brings Thailand on par with the international community. Additionally, it makes people aware of the unseen threat that is close to them.  If everyone has basic life support knowledge, and knows where to ask for help, deaths can be dramatically reduced. The specialized agency, namely the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (EMIT) can be reachable via the number 1669 and help reduce losses,” Pol. Maj. Gen. Dr. Sophon said adding that, “Apart from residential buildings and condominium complexes, AED equipment should be installed at crowded places like airports, bus terminals, piers, mass rapid transit stations and department stores.”

Automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device used to treat sudden cardiac arrest victims.  It automatically diagnoses heart waves and provides treatment by delivering a dose of electric current to stimulate the heart and bring it back to regular beating. Following simple audio instructions on the use of AED, users can save lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims. 

AP (Thailand) PCL is Thailand’s leading property developer with expertise in creating innovations to maximize space functionality for urban living.  The company delivers all dimensions of quality, services, convenience and safety with the ultimate goal of building a sustainable quality of life starting from small communities in AP-branded projects to ensure improved living quality for Thai society.

For more information on the campaign, go to http://www.SmallestSpaceToSaveLives.com.  For downloading the video, go to goo.gl/CxBP6H

“AP Thailand – quality life space we conceived for you”