Sydney Airport to increase number of life-saving AEDs (automated external defibrillators) across terminals by 20%
Sydney Airport will increase the number of life-saving AEDs (automated external defibrillators) at the airport by nearly 20% to 48 units to deliver greater accessibility during emergencies in its commitment to delivering a safe environment for staff and passengers.
Throughout October, new AEDs will be deployed within the airport’s Domestic and International terminals, baggage areas, office buildings and operational vehicles located on the airfield to assist in emergency responses. These will complement existing AED locations which will be re-skinned in a vivid yellow to enhance visibility.
Bolstering the number of AEDs forms part of the airport’s new partnership with Heart of the Nation – a not-for-profit initiative founded by original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, whose own life was saved by an AED during a cardiac arrest in 2020.
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said the airport’s focus on harnessing a strong safety culture is key to day-to-day operations, with everyone that works at the airport playing a vital role in keeping colleagues and passengers safe.
“Ensuring the safety of the tens of thousands of staff who work at the airport, as well as the millions of passengers who make their way through the terminals each year is our number one priority.
“Every year an average of 10 people suffer a cardiac arrest at the airport and our aim is to ensure no matter where our passengers, customers, staff, and stakeholders are inside the terminal, an AED is within sight.
“I’m especially proud to partner with Greg and Heart of the Nation to help raise awareness of the power of AEDs, and it’s fitting that we’re not only giving our existing locations a bright yellow facelift to make them more visible but paying homage to Greg’s original yellow Wiggle roots.”
Sydney Airport terminal and safety teams undertook extensive consultation with Heart of the Nation to identify further accessible locations for AEDs, enhance visibility and improve access to existing locations.
Founder of Heart of the Nation Greg Page said: “It’s fantastic to see Sydney Airport bolster their safety program by increasing AEDs across the airport and it’s been my privilege to work with their teams to enhance their visibility and accessibility.
“The beauty of an AED is that it does all the work for you, so from trained emergency responders to airport staff and travellers, anyone can use the machines which are intuitively programmed to guide you through the steps to resuscitate someone.
“And I’m a testament to just how well they work. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the quick thinking of bystanders and proximity to an AED and it’s the reason I established Heart of the Nation, to spread awareness of this technology and save more lives.”
Greg and the team from Heart of the Nation joined Sydney Airport’s yearly safety week events conducting an AED awareness session for head office staff to drive greater awareness on how to use an AED during an emergency.
