Now is the Time to Be a Hong Kong Heart Hero; Act and Save a Life

Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest kills about 5,000 Hong Kong people each year, if bystanders know CPR and can access a defibrillator, we could save more lives

Having already played a role in 100 documented life-saving rescues, Hong Kong’s Pacific Medical Systems Limited wants to deliver an important public health message 

(Hong Kong, 8 December 2020) A quick-thinking security guard used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on October 8 that saved a life. The AED delivered two electrical shocks to a 53-year-old man, who collapsed in a mall restaurant on the east side of Hong Kong. This man would have died from suffering a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a lethal glitch in the heart’s rhythm, without immediate defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He was now discharged from hospital and recovering.
The Automated External Defibrillator (AED), is a compact, portable medical device that checks the heart rhythm and delivers an electric defibrillation shock when needed, resetting the heart’s system of electrical impulses that stimulate the heart muscle’s pumping action.

 Comprehensive research in peer-review based scientific journals show that a quick response by bystanders is most important in saving the life of people in sudden cardiac arrest. The first 5 minutes after a patient’s collapse is crucial. Calling an ambulance, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an AED to deliver defibrillation shock have been shown to save lives. The earlier the better chance of survival.

Sudden cardiac arrest: anyone can help

 The account of the security guard’s saving the sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim tells of the 100th life saved by a PowerHeart® AED. These easy-to-use devices are true lifesavers and have been used in 100 successful, out-of-hospital resuscitations of SCA victims with ages ranging from 18 to over 70.

“We’re thankful to have been involved in saving 100 lives in Hong Kong, but there’s much more that people can do to understand the problem and act to save lives,” says Pacific Medical Systems Chief Executive Jules Flach. 

Mr. Flach continues, “With a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, it is predominantly a race against time. We have only a few minutes where it is still possible to restore a heart’s rhythm to save that person’s life. Awareness, first aid training and immediate access to an AED allow bystanders to save someone whose heart has stopped. AEDs are simple to use and are proven to save lives.”

As part of its responsibility to the community, Pacific Medical Systems Limited (PMS) urges training of the public in CPR and the use of an AED. The Hong Kong Fire Services Department is one agency offering free lectures on CPR and AEDs, and coordinates the 'Press to shock – Save a life' Automated External Defibrillator Course. More information is available here: https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/eng/education/ amb_press_to_shock. html

“Fast action saves lives. Survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest outside of the hospital setting are totally dependent on prompt bystander engagement and immediate availability of an AED,” says Mr Flach.

Automated External Defibrillators have a built-in computer that analyses a person’s heart rhythm through electrode pads on their chest. The AED delivers step-by-step voice instructions that notify the user if defibrillation is needed, walks them through the process, and also recognizes when the heart’s rhythm has been restored. The AED will not deliver a defibrillation current if the AED determines that it is not needed.

Sudden cardiac arrest affects us all

Sudden Cardiac Arrest describes an event where the heart unexpectedly stops beating normally due to a ‘short circuit’ in the pathways of the heart muscle. The person suffering a Sudden Cardiac Arrest will become unconscious immediately, unable to call for help. This is quite different to a myocardial infraction or heart attack as it’s commonly known, which sees an interruption to the heart’s blood supply due to a blockage of the blood vessels in the heart.

In Hong Kong, there are more than 5,000 attempts to resuscitate out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests each year but the outcomes of these attempts are generally quite low. The worldwide survival rate for out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests falls in the range from 2 percent to 11 percent. 

The June 2019 report in the Hong Kong Medical Journal recommends a public awareness campaign, greater training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, and a Hong Kong-wide programme to install defibrillation equipment that can be used by the public.

About Pacific Medical Systems Limited (PMS)

Pacific Medical Systems Limited (PMS) is a medical equipment distribution company founded in Hong Kong in 2003. It specializes in introducing new, innovative products to Hong Kong, mainland China and nearby Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. PMS has established strong presence in areas like Critical Care, Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Neurology, Respiratory, Cardiac Surgery and Emergency Medicine.

For more information, visit www.aed.com.hk or telephone 2108 4005.

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Successful PMS Installed AED Cases Recorded 

Facts and Figures of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)

Sudden cardiac arrest happens without warning and in seemingly healthy people, often without an apparent or pre-existing illness. This potentially lethal problem goes unnoticed, and the exact scale of the problem is difficult to accurately tally.

Typical Steps in AED Rescue

After calling for an ambulance, locate the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device. As directed by the voice prompts, apply the pair of electrode pads to each side of the patient’s bare chest as shown. The AED will immediately analyze the patient’s heart rhythm and decide if an electric shock is needed. This fully automatic device will count down and deliver the shock if required. The AED voice prompts will tell the rescuer what to do at each step of the way and when to stand clear for the application of the electric shock therapy. The AED will not deliver any defibrillation therapy if not required. The rescuer is completely safe during this process. The patient’s heart rhythm is recorded throughout the rescue process and can be analyzed later by the healthcare providers to help with diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

For video demonstration of AED rescue, please click  http://www.aed.com.hk/en/ 

About Pacific Medical Systems AEDs

Pacific Medical Systems Limited has been an AED (Automated External Defibrillators) provider since 2004, with over 3500 Powerheart® series AEDs installed in Hong Kong/Macau SAR.  The previously known Cardiac Science Powerheart® AEDs, now part of Zoll Medical Corporation, has appointed Pacific Medical Systems Ltd (PMS) to continue as the exclusive distribution partner in Hong Kong / Macau SAR.  

The Powerheart® series AEDs are fully automated, reliable and intuitive for layman users. Although the device is designed for layman use with voice prompt instructions, first responders are advised to take a CPR/AED course from the Government recognised certificate course with organisations like Red Cross and St John’s Ambulance. 

香港需要救心英雄 立即行動，拯救生命

香港每年約有五千人死於院外突發性心臟停頓疾病

若旁人懂施予心肺復甦法並可使用去顫機，將拯救更多生命

香港 Pacific Medical Systems 成功參與100宗有記錄的拯救行動期望向公眾傳遞重要的健康訊息

（香港，2020年12月8日）今年10月8日，全靠一名反應迅速的保安員，使用自動體外心臟去顫機（AED，又稱「救心機」）成功挽救一名病患者生命。當日53歲男性患者昏迷在位於港島東區商場內的餐廳，幸及時利用「救心機」傳送兩次去顫性電擊急救。突發性心臟停頓（SCA）是一種可致命的心律不整疾病，如沒有即時施予去顫法及心肺復甦法（CPR），患者可能會被奪去生命。該名患者現正逐漸康復，並已出院。

「救心機」是一部輕巧便攜的醫療儀器，可助分析患者心律及在有需要時進行去顫性電擊，重置刺激心肌收縮的心臟電脈衝系統。

根據同行評論科學期刊上的綜合研究，反映了旁人的迅速反應，對拯救突發性心臟停頓患者的生命十分重要。患者昏迷後首5分鐘是關鍵時刻。研究證實，致電傳呼救護車、施矛心肺復甦法（CPR）及使用 「救心機」去進行去顫法電擊，是可助挽救生命。愈早急救，存活率愈高。

突發性心臟停頓——任何人都可以施以救援

保安員拯救突發性心臟停頓（SCA）患者的生命，是 PowerHeart® AED 成功挽救的第100個生命。這儀器確實是簡單易用的「救心機」，成功挽救了100名18至70歲醫院外突發性心臟停頓病患者的生命。

《Pacific Medical Systems——香港需要救心英雄；立即行動，拯救生命》新聞稿 

Pacific Medical Systems 行政總裁 Jules Flach 指出﹕「我們非常感恩能夠在香港參與拯救100名患者的生命，然而，大家仍可進一步了解更多有關突發性心臟停頓的問題，並採取行動，拯救生命。」

Flach 先生補充﹕「突發性心臟停頓顯然是與時間競賽，我們只有數分鐘時間去重整患者的心律，拯救生命。提高大眾意識、接受急救訓練，以及即時取得『救心機』，都有助旁人挽救心臟停頓的患者。『救心機』簡單易用，並已證實有助拯救生命。」

作為對社會負責任的一份子，Pacific Medical Systems（PMS）呼籲大眾報讀 CPR 訓練課程及 AED 應用課程。其中，香港消防處有免費提供 CPR 及 AED 教育講座，並舉辦《「擊活人心」- 心肺復甦法及自動心臟除顫器課程》。詳情有關資訊，可參考﹕https://www.hkfsd.gov.hk/chi/education/amb_ press_to_shock.html

Flach 先生表示﹕「行動迅速可拯救生命。醫院外突發性心臟停頓病患者的存活率完全依賴旁人的迅速支援，以及現場即時的 『救心機』設備。」

「救心機」設有內置電腦程式，可透過貼在患者胸部的電極貼片分析其心律。如需進行去顫法，該「救心機」會發出聲音指示，一步一步地教導施救者操作整個過程；當患者心律回復正常，「救心機」亦會自動識別 （急救程序示範短片https://www.aed.com.hk/tc/index.php ）。如 「救心機」判定無需進行去顫法，「救心機」不會傳送去顫電流。

任何人都可能受突發性心臟停頓影響

突發性心臟停頓——當心臟肌肉電流「短路」，心臟會突然停止正常跳動。該突發性心臟停頓病患者會即時失去意識，無法呼救。突發性心臟停頓與心肌梗塞（亦稱心臟病）大有不同，心臟病是指心臟血管阻塞或縮窄，而導致阻礙心肌的血液供應，因而病發；病發前，患者通常會有出現病徵，例如心口感到受壓。

在香港，每年有超過5,000宗醫院外突發性心臟停頓的拯救個案，然而，成功拯救率往往都屬偏低。世界各地平均醫院外突發性心臟停頓病患者的存活率介乎百分之2至百分之11。

《香港醫學雜誌》的2019年報告建議提高大眾意識、增加更多心肺復甦法（CPR）訓練課程，並在全港設置「救心機」，以供市民使用。

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Pacific Medical Systems (PMS) 記錄的 「救心機」成功拯救個案

https://www.hkmj.org/abstracts/v25n3/222.htm

有關突發性心臟病

突發性心臟病可發生在看似身體健康人士身上，病發時可以是沒有病徵預兆，通常亦沒有明顯或已存在的疾病。這潛在致命的問題往往被忽視，而且問題的規模難以準確地記錄估算。

 有關「救心機」基本急救程序

致電傳呼救護車後，立即去提取「救心機」。按照 「救心機」的語音指示，將一對粘貼的電極片直接貼在患者胸部。 「救心機」會即時分析患者的心律，並決定是否需要進行電擊。整個過程是全自動並安全使用。 「救心機」的語音指示會遂步帶領施救者操作，如需傳送電擊治療，「救心機」會提示施救者站開。如無必要，「救心機」不會進行任何去顫法。使用過程完全安全，施救者無需擔心。過程期間，「救心機」會自動記錄患者的心律，以便醫護人員事後參考及治療。

有關「救心機」急救程序示範片段，可瀏覽https://www.aed.com.hk/tc/index.php 

關於 Pacific Medical Systems Limited (PMS)

Pacific Medical Systems Limited (PMS) 於2003 年在香港成立，是專業的醫療器材顧問及分銷公司，專門引進亞洲區內的新技術。PMS 亦提供全亞洲銷售管理服務，並為顧客提供全面的產品資訊、產品註冊及售後服務。此外，PMS 與客戶建立了良好的關係網絡，一直為各政府機構、醫院及診所提供心臟科、腦神經科、胸肺科、兒科及深切治療方面的醫療器材服務。業務拓展範圍包括中國大陸、韓國、台灣、香港、泰國、新加玻、馬來西亞、印尼、越南及菲律賓。

有關更多資訊，請瀏覽www.pacificmedicalsystems.com或致電2108 4005。

有關 PMS 提供的 Powerheart® AED

Pacific Medical Systems Limited（PMS）是專業的醫療器材顧問及分銷公司。自2004年起，PMS已在香港及澳門地區裝置共超過3500部 Powerheart® 一系列自動體外心臟去顫機（AED，又稱「救心機」）。過往由 Cardiac Science 研發及製造的 Powerheart® AED ，現由美國主要的醫療器材及系統生産商 Zoll Medical Corporation 製造生産。Pacific Medical Systems Limited（PMS）將繼續獲委任為香港及澳門獨家分銷合作伙伴公司。

Powerheart® 一系列自動體外心臟去顫機（AED，又稱「救心機」）是全自動、可靠及簡單易用的救急工具。即使該儀器有清晰語音指示以便市民使用，我們建議施救者先接受由紅十字會、香港聖約翰救護等機構舉辦的政府認可 CPR/AED 證書課程。