WITH the help of an automated external defibrillator (AED), an unconscious man, surnamed Han, was saved by the joint effort from the local traffic police officers, volunteers and a resident in Luohu on May 8, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

On the morning of May 8, Han, aged over 40 years old, went to Luohu’s vehicles administration office to discuss how to handle an irregularity.

“When we told him that he could use his phone to handle the issue, the man suddenly fell to the ground,” said Liu Shishuai, director with the vehicles administration office in Luohu.

Volunteers at the office’s information desk immediately called for help. Police officer Chen Rui rushed to the man and found he had no pulse, no heartbeat and a very faint breath.

Li Xiaoyan, another officer with the department, then asked for an AED. When traffic officers were ready to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on him, a resident named Tao Hong, who said she has trained for first aid, came to help.

Tao and traffic officers took turns conducting CPR on Han until ambulance arrived.

Han is out of critical condition now, according to the report.

“Not long after I fell to the ground, I could feel that someone was pressing on my chest, and then I lost my consciousness,” said Han.

Han stated that he didn’t have any prior symptoms associated with heart problems. “It might be related to my irregular bedtimes,” he added.

The experience caused Han to cherish more about his life. “Without the help of AED and people on the site, I would already be dead,” said Han, who also valued the city’s actions to provide first-aid trainings.

Han’s wife surnamed Zeng was grateful for the efforts made by local police officers and said that Shenzhen is a city full of love.

Luo Linjie with the cardiovascular department of Shenzhen People’s Hospital said that the emergency health care provided before arrival at the hospital is very time sensitive and necessary.

It is said that Shenzhen tops other cities in the country in terms of AED coverage rates. The city has aimed to install 150 AEDs at 18 affordable housing communities before August this year. Shenzhen also plans to install at least 2,000 AEDs each year during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period (2021-2025), totaling 10,000 in the five years.

(Wang Jingli)