İzmir expands access to Automated External Defibrillators

The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has begun installing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at various locations throughout the city to facilitate early intervention during sudden cardiac arrest incidents. These portable devices analyze a patient's heart rhythm and provide electrical shocks if necessary, while offering step-by-step guidance to the person performing the intervention.

To determine the most effective placement, officials utilized density maps based on historical data of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. Associate Professor Dr. Başak Bayram, Chief Physician of Eşrefpaşa Hospital, stated that the municipality aims to install 30 devices this month. Combined with 20 devices previously placed by the Ministry of Health, the city will have a total of 50 AEDs available in highly visible and accessible areas.

Dr. Bayram emphasized that rapid intervention is critical because ambulances typically take approximately 7.5 minutes to reach a scene. Early detection, rapid activation of emergency services, and immediate assistance via these devices are vital factors in increasing survival rates.