A scenario exercise of the deployment of the automated external defibrillator at the Seletar Bus Depot on Nov 8. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Launched on 8 November 2024, SBS Transit (SBST) has equipped 53 public buses and three patrol cars with HeartSine® automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of its AED-on-Buses programme. This initiative enables SBST bus captains and commuters to administer life-saving treatment in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) emergencies, prior to the arrival of paramedics.
SBST is the first public transport operator to join the AED-on-Buses programme, which is an extension of the AED-on-Wheels initiative introduced in November 2015. The AED-on-Buses programme plays a crucial role in the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Save-A-Life Initiative. As of October 2024, 545 suspected cardiac arrest cases were attended to by drivers under the AED-on-Wheels programme.
The primary goal of these initiatives is to enhance the community’s first-response capabilities in cardiac emergencies and improve public access to AEDs. Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, highlighted at the launch: “With this initiative, AED accessibility and coverage will be provided to 33,000 bus commuters daily.”
The 53 buses equipped with AEDs serve key routes in residential areas with large elderly populations and industrial zones, where immediate access to AEDs may otherwise be limited.
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