MADURAI: Senior interventional cardiologist Dr.A.Mathavan has suggested deployment of life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and having ‘heart masters’ in the famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple to attend to sudden cardiac emergencies because it is thronged by huge number of people everyday.
His Active Heart Foundation has been very actively propagating for availability of AEDs in public places and it had already put this life-saving device at vital spots such as Madurai Railway Junction and Maattuthavani Bus Stand here.
Dr.Mathavan, who is the Director of Cardiology and Cath Labs at Velammal Speciality Hospital in Madurai, and his team are planning to meet Meenakshi Temple ‘thakkar’ Mr. Karumuttu T.Kannan soon and put their suggestions and ‘heart masters’ training concept to him since this world famous temple attracts thousands of devotees and tourists everyday and it is an important public place that needs to have an AED to meet any urgent cardiac need.
FOR SUDDEN CARDIAC ARRESTS:
“In countries like Singapore, Malaysia etc, the have AEDs in public places. They have trained personnel who are called as ‘heart masters’….. See, unfortunately how our former President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, had suddenly collapsed and died while addressing a meeting….In such cases, having AED is of paramount important and atleast we can attempt to save a life,” Dr.Mathavan told ‘Lotus Times’ news website on October 25th 2019.
By using AED, normal rhythm of the heart could be revived and resuscitate. “When we meet Mr.Karumuttu T.Kannan, we will explain how trained persons in using AEDs can be there in all duty shifts. I am also going to provide this life-saving facility to Srivilliputhur Andal Temple because I come from that place,” said Dr.Mathavan.
A GOOD TEAM IS THERE:
The Active Heart Foundation in Madurai has a good team led by Dr.Mathavan and they are constantly working to create public awareness and approach officials to explain AED importance.
Dr.Badrinarayanan, Dr.Vadivelu, Dr.Vijayaram Krishnan and AHF coordinator Mr.N.Karthik are actively involved in giving layman training in shock treatment and immediately shift the person to a hospital for cardiac attention.
It is a basic life support system and this Foundation has contributed to Madurai Railway Junction where, Dr.Mathavan says, was found to be very useful thanks to the involvement of railway officials and staff who showed lot of interest to use AED and save precious lives.
