The Regional Secretary for Health stated on Corvo that the Government of the Azores, through the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service, has already invested over the last three years nearly 100 thousand Euros in basic life support with automated external defibrillators, including training and investment in equipment.
 
Luís Cabral delivered today an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to Corvo Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters, thus concluding the allocation of equipment to all fire corporations and the respective sections.
 
"With the ambulance rescue equipped with AEDs and trained professionals, we are ensuring emergency relief and quality pre-hospital assistance to all Azoreans, with the certainty that we are making every effort to save lives," stressed Luís Cabral.
 
The Regional Secretary also noted that about 90% of firefighters in the Region already have training in basic life support with DAE, "which is a very significant number, even at national level."
 
"While in 100 firefighters attended a training course on Basic Life Support - AED, this figure increased to over 300 in 2014 and to over 600 last year," added the government official.
 
According to Luís Cabral, the investment in training from 2014 to 2015 corresponds to an amount over 36,500 Euros, which adds up to the 57 thousand Euros invested in the acquisition of all the equipment distributed by fire corporations across the archipelago.
 
"Overall, the Regional Government has invested 100 thousand Euros in Basic Life Support with Automated External Defibrillator," said the government official.
 
According to Luís Cabral, the data reflect the Government's concern with the welfare of Azoreans, stressing that it has created all the conditions to provide a reliable response whenever it is necessary."