Staff writer, with CNAThe Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering installing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at more public places, including temples, to reduce fatalities from sudden cardiac arrest, a senior health official said. The ministry was investigating the feasibility of expanding the current installation of AEDs to more public spaces, such as popular temples, community centers and junior-high and elementary schools, Department of Medical Affairs Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said. The review came after the death on Wednesday of Canadian-Taiwanese actor and model Godfrey Gao (高以翔) in China. Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the US, according to the American Red Cross. In that condition, “the heart can no longer pump blood to vital organs, and eventually the heartbeat stops, leading to death,” Lin said.
