Public Outcry Prompts Revamp of Subway Public Health Resources
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Following the death of a 45-year old man last month on Beijing’s Line 13 subway, the municipal government is responding to public calls to increase resources for emergency response equipment at subway stops. In late September, a man was non-responsive at Huoying station despite attempts from two fellow passengers to revive him using CPR. He later died in a local hospital. The incident prompted public debate regarding government responsibilities to provide public health equipment within Beijing’s subway system, particularly automated external defibrillators (AEDs). As a highly portable and relatively easy-to-use medical device, AEDs are a common resource for first responders in the event of heart attack or cardiovascular irregularities.
In response, the Beijing government has quickly moved to install more AEDs. By the end of 2022, Beijing plans to install defibrillators in all subway stations as a component of what authorities say is a larger effort to improve public safety. Authorities began installing AEDs on Oct 27, including within Line 4’s Xidan station.
A medical professional gives a public presentation on the AED
By the end of 2020, local authorities have promised that 104 stations across seven subway lines will be equipped with at least one newly installed AED. By December 2022, the city intends to train more than 80 percent of Beijing's subway workers to use AEDs. The machines are to be installed in prominent locations, accompanied by clearly labeled signs and instructions. In the future, AEDs will be available in more public spaces across the city, such as railway stations and parks, and the public will be notified.
There are many stories of public health incidents on Beijing’s subways, although thankfully not all of them end tragically. Last April, for example, a seven-year-old girl fainted on Beijing’s Fangshan Line. Luckily, a fellow passenger jumped into action, administering (possibly unnecessary) CPR learned in a first aid training course. An emergency response team was ready to step in the moment they reached the next station. The train stopped for several minutes until the girl was revived.
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Images: The Paper, Xunbao Daily
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