An Assessment of Qualified Lifeguards’ Knowledge and Attitudes towards Automated External Defibrillator: A Case Study of Singapore

초록

Drowning occurs when a person suffers respiratory impairment from being submersed in liquid, and it is the 3rd largest cause of unintentional injury death globally. In most drowning situations, cardiac arrest occurs within 15 minutes of being submerged. The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a fundamental equipment for basic life support for sudden cardiac arrest victims. Total 156 valid surveys were collected through on-site visits carried out at 12 facilities over a 3-week period to access of qualified lifeguards’ knowledge and attitudes towards AEDs in Singapore. Results show that lifeguards in Singapore generally had poor knowledge on AEDs, a negative attitude towards AED usage and were poorly informed on AED and lifesaving legislation. Making AED certification compulsory for lifeguards would likely increase their confidence in using AEDs. Moreover, clarification regarding protection from legal liability should be provided to increase lifeguards’ willingness to use AEDs.

키워드