Wuhu installs 389 defibrillators citywide

By Cheng Qian | Wuhunews.cn

Wuhu has stepped up efforts to build a comprehensive emergency medical rescue system, installing 389 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces across the city to create a seamless care pathway for patients with acute and critical conditions.

The city has strengthened hospital emergency services and established a three-tier emergency rescue network covering the municipal, county, and township levels, according to the Wuhu Municipal Health Commission. Twenty-one provincial-level or above specialized treatment centers for chest pain, stroke, and trauma have been set up citywide.

The connection between pre-hospital emergency care and in-hospital treatment has been streamlined, enabling advance information sharing for emergency patients. The average handover time between ambulance crews and hospital staff has been reduced to under 15 minutes.

The 389 AEDs have been placed in diverse locations, including urban rail transit stations, long-distance bus terminals, railway stations, airports, major enterprises, government agencies, factory floors, city squares, nursing homes, residential communities, sports and cultural venues, schools, kindergartens, hotels, and tourist attractions.

With the hardware in place, the city has also stepped up personnel training and emergency drills. As of August, 29 specialized training sessions and practical drills had been conducted this year to improve integrated capabilities in on-site response, patient transfer, and in-hospital treatment, steadily raising the success rate for critical care.

In addition, the city ensures that no patient is denied emergency care due to financial constraints. Under a "treat first, pay later" policy, green channels are opened for critically ill patients who are unidentified or unable to pay. Working with public security, civil affairs, human resources, and medical insurance authorities, the city has identified eligible recipients and allocated 1.147 million yuan ($161,000) from the Emergency Medical Assistance Fund since 2021.