Suddenly, it was found that the usage rate of AED, which is essential for the lifesaving of people with cardiac arrest, has dropped significantly since the spread of the new coronavirus infection, and the lifesaving rate has also declined.


Organizations made up of doctors and others are calling for cooperation in lifesaving measures after taking measures.

AED is a medical device that gives an electric shock to a person who has suffered cardiac arrest due to a sudden heart abnormality. It is indispensable for lifesaving treatment as well as chest compressions, and more than 600,000 AEDs are installed nationwide.



According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Japan AED Foundation, the "usage rate", which indicates the percentage of people who collapsed in front of someone who received an electric shock treatment with an AED, is on the rise year by year, reaching 5% in 2019. Although it exceeded, it decreased to 4.2% in 2020 when the infection of the new corona spread.



In addition, the percentage of people who were able to reintegrate into society one month after cardiac arrest, which is an indicator of lifesaving rate, also decreased from 9% to 7.5%, and the use of AED was used because of the psychology of avoiding contact with people. It is believed that there are cases of hesitation.



For this reason, the Japan AED Foundation issued an urgent statement saying that covering the other person's mouth with a cloth during treatment can reduce the risk of infection, and if the fallen person does not respond and breathing is not normal, 119 Calling for reporting, chest compressions, and the use of AEDs.



Hideo Mitamura, President of the Japan AED Foundation, said, "The lives of people who have stopped their hearts cannot be saved by waiting for the arrival of the ambulance crew, so I would like to ask for the cooperation of the citizens to save their lives even if they are suffering from corona." I'm talking.