Over 50 defibrillators installed in Lidl stores and public spaces across Bucharest
The Department for Emergency Situations, together with Lidl Romania and the SMURD Foundation, installed over 50 automated defibrillators in Lidl stores and public spaces in Bucharest and Ilfov County.
The defibrillators are part of the national project "First Aid Point. Be a Lifesaver!" initiated by the three parties. The project aims to facilitate citizens' ability to provide first aid in the event of a cardiac arrest, by equipping Lidl stores and heavily trafficked public spaces with advanced emergency medical assistance equipment.
In addition to Lidl stores in Bucharest and Ilfov County, medical equipment was also installed in public spaces such as the National Theater, the National Opera, the Palace Hall, the Academy of Economic Studies, and the Romanian Athenaeum in the capital city. Additionally, defibrillators will be installed in various metro stations in Bucharest: Piața Sudului, Tineretului, Piața Unirii 1, Piața Unirii 2, Universitate, Piața Romană, Piața Victoriei 1, Piața Victoriei 2, Gara De Nord, Eroilor, Politehnica, Dristor, Nicolae Grigorescu.
The next city to join the national network of automated defibrillators is Targu Mures. Medical equipment will be installed in all Lidl stores locally and in public spaces.
The list of cities in the country where the project will gradually expand includes Iasi, Sibiu, Timisoara, Oradea, Constanta, Cluj-Napoca, and Craiova.
Over 370 medical devices will be installed in Lidl Romania stores and public institutions nationwide as part of the national project "First Aid Point. Be a Lifesaver!" All first aid points are equipped with an automated defibrillator that also contains a pulse oximeter for measuring pulse and blood oxygen saturation, an electrocardiogram machine, and an oxygen mask. Once removed from the support where it is placed, the device automatically sends an SMS to a representative of the respective location to signal its use.
This type of advanced medical equipment can be used with minimal training because it guides the person providing first aid step-by-step through auditory and easy-to-follow visual commands. Additionally, the equipment directly connects to the dispatch center when opened, connecting the user with a doctor who can monitor the patient's condition in real-time and provide instructions until medical teams arrive.
"In emergency situations where a person suffers a cardiac arrest, providing first aid, including chest compressions and administering an electric shock, are vital interventions that must be applied until medical teams arrive. The chances of survival increase by 50-70% when resuscitation maneuvers and automated defibrillation take place within the first 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest," said Dr. Raed Arafat, secretary of state and head of the Department for Emergency Situations.
He also explained that these defibrillators are designed in such a way as to automatically detect if the patient needs a shock to restart their heart and will not activate if it's not necessary.
The National Project "First Aid Point. Be a Lifesaver!" is initiated by the Department for Emergency Situations, with the support of Lidl Romania and the SMURD Foundation, alongside the Special Telecommunications Service, Vodafone Romania, and Linde Gaz Romania.
(Photo source: Lidl | SMURD | DSU)
