Kauvery Hospital, Chennai Airport Install 13 AEDs to Strengthen Emergency Cardiac Response
Chennai: Kauvery Hospital and Chennai International Airport have jointly launched the HeartSafe Initiative, installing 13 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across the airport to enhance emergency response for sudden cardiac arrest and other cardiac emergencies.
The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of Raja Kishore, Director, Chennai International Airport, and Dr. Manivannan S, Founder and Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, along with senior officials from the airport and the hospital.
Kauvery Hospital currently operates 24×7 emergency medical services at Chennai International Airport through four medical clinics located at Terminal 1 Arrival, Terminal 2 Departure, Terminal 2 Security Hold Area (SHA), and Terminal 4 Arrival.
The airport medical services are supported by a team of 49 healthcare professionals, including emergency physicians, nurses, paramedics and support staff. These clinics provide medical assessment, emergency treatment and patient stabilisation for passengers, airport employees, airline crew and visitors.
According to the hospital, the four clinics collectively handle around 320 to 400 patient cases every month, with each clinic managing approximately 80 to 100 cases. These include onboard medical emergencies, walk-in consultations, emergency cases and patients requiring stabilisation before transfer to higher medical centres.
Among these, the clinics attend to an average of 5 to 10 cardiac-related cases every month, most commonly involving chest pain, palpitations and high blood pressure.
The emergency medical network is also supported by two fully equipped ambulances stationed at the runway and cityside to facilitate rapid medical response and patient transfer when required.
With the addition of the 13 AEDs, the airport’s emergency preparedness has been expanded to enable faster intervention during cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively, resulting in an immediate interruption of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Medical experts note that survival chances decline by approximately 7 to 10 per cent for every minute without treatment. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combined with timely use of an AED can significantly improve survival rates.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that analyses a patient’s heart rhythm and, when necessary, delivers an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat. The device provides voice-guided instructions, allowing it to be used by both trained responders and members of the public during emergencies.
Speaking at the inauguration, Raja Kishore, Director, Chennai International Airport, said the installation of AEDs is aimed at strengthening emergency medical preparedness across the airport and acknowledged Kauvery Hospital’s role in operating the airport’s round-the-clock emergency medical clinics.
Dr. Manivannan S, Founder and Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said that timely treatment is critical during sudden cardiac arrest and noted that emergency preparedness depends on trained personnel, appropriate medical systems and rapid access to life-saving equipment such as AEDs.
The installation of the AEDs forms part of a joint effort by Chennai International Airport and Kauvery Hospital to improve emergency medical response while also increasing public awareness about recognising cardiac arrest, performing CPR and using AEDs until professional medical assistance becomes available.
