Rescue DG dispels impression Ambulances lack vital cardiac relief device

LAHORE, April 28: Up to 96 ambulances bought by the Punjab Emergency Service, known as 1122, for 24 districts lack automatic external defibrillator (AED), a life-saving facility for cardiac patients, Dawn has learnt. The AED provides emergency relief to normalise the 'dying heart' of a cardiac patient primarily by giving him short electric shocks. Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer said AEDs had been replaced with cardiac monitors and other equipment such as glucometer with 50 strips, suction units with rechargeable battery on a special holding bracket and microvents. An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in an emergency patient. It also treats them through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. Shaikh Zayed Hospital senior doctor Ahmed Alamgir said emergency ambulances usually carried AEDs for first responder use and commercial airliners, cruise ships and other transportation facilities carried the device as a first and temporary emergency treatment for cardiac patients. He said the patients suffering from high blood sugar, massive bleeding and heart attack usually required electrical therapy in critical hours while shifting them to the health facilities and AEDs were said to be the vital device in this situation. A source said Rescue 1122 ambulances had been using AEDs in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Gujranwala since 2004. Other 96 ambulances bought in 2010-11 last year, however, lack the facility. These ambulances are operating in Attock, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Jhang, Khanewal, Layyah, Mianwali, Kasur, Okara, Vehari, Pakpattan, Ranjanpur, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Khushab, Toba Tek Singh, Jhelum, Narowal, Muzaffargarh, Mandi Bahauddin, Lodhran, Bahawalnagar and Hafizabad. Rescue 1122 has earned its name as the first modern emergency service of Punjab because of its standardized services and trained staff. An official of Rescue 1122 told Dawn that AEDs were designed to be simple to use for the layman, and their usage was even taught in many first aid and basic life support level classes of Rescue 1122 officials. About replacing AEDs with cardiac monitors, he said monitors showed electrical and pressure waveforms of the cardiovascular system for measurement. "The cardiac monitor continuously displays the cardiac electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing which are most commonly used in emergency rooms and critical care areas," he said adding that the cardiac monitor was mostly used to monitor electrical activity of the heart by qualified doctors. Dr Naseer, however, defended the 'replacement' saying that portable ventilator had been installed in the newly-bought 96 ambulances to save the lives of cardiac patients in rescue phases. He said the available installations or equipments in 1122 ambulances were enough for emergency care. He, however, claimed the department was trying to buy AEDs for the newly purchased ambulances.