The SCDF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) to launch the Registry for AED Integration (R-AEDi) project. The objective of this project is to set-up a comprehensive national online AED registry to improve the overall management of publicly located AEDs. The MOU was signed this morning at the Singapore Civil Defence Force Headquarters by Commissioner SCDF, Commissioner Eric Yap and CEO of SHF, Mr Vernon Kang.

This collaboration is aimed at raising the out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) survival rates (see background information on page 2) by increasing bystander CPR and public access AED usage. The MOU will also institutionalise other aspects such as programmes to organise and promote the installation of AEDs at public premises, programmes to raise public awareness, and adopting a set of standardised AED guidelines for audit and the maintenance regime. The project will commence in phases and is targeted to be fully operational by 2017.

By leveraging on the prevalent use of smart phones, there will be a means for the public to quickly locate a nearby AED during emergencies. SCDF 995 call centre specialists will also use the data from the online registry to direct callers to the nearest AED. A bystander stepping forward to perform CPR with the AED, will greatly increase the chances of survival of a patient. All SCDF 995 call centre specialists are trained to coach a caller over the telephone on how to perform CPR and use an AED.