In a significant move aimed at enhancing passenger safety and well-being, Pune Airport has introduced Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) within its terminal premises to assist individuals facing sudden cardiac arrests. This vital initiative has been realized through the persistent efforts of Dhairyasheel Vandekar, a civil aviation specialist and analyst in Pune, who advocated for this life-saving measure earlier this year.
Dhairyasheel Vandekar, who had raised the issue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation in February, recently received official confirmation regarding the provision of AEDs at Pune Airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation conveyed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) – Pune Airport had issued a Fresh Expression of Interest (EOI) on August 30, 2023, for the operation of a Medical Inspection (MI) Room at the airport. The EOI includes a requirement for the provision of five AEDs/PADs (Public Access Defibrillators) by the Health Service Provider. Additionally, an AED has already been made available at the existing MI room at Pune Airport.
Vandekar expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I am glad to inform that the Office of Ministry of Civil Aviation vide their communication dated 04 October, 2023 have informed me with regard to my demand for Critical Care medical facility at Pune airport.” He had been advocating for critical care medical facilities and life-saving equipment, especially the AEDs, emphasizing the importance of the “Golden Hour treatment” for patients in critical conditions.
During his visit to Pune Airport’s medical facility in February 2023, Vandekar had noticed the absence of AEDs and promptly communicated the necessity of such life-saving equipment to the Airport Director of AAI, Pune. He further elevated this demand to the Chairman of AAI in New Delhi and the Central Civil Aviation Minister of India. In September 2023, Vandekar took his appeal to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, underlining the importance of AEDs and other civil aviation requirements for Pune and Maharashtra.
The introduction of AEDs at Pune Airport is expected to benefit passengers, vendors, airport and airline staff, security personnel, and other stakeholders in times of cardiac emergencies. At Mumbai Airport, a total of 120 AEDs are strategically placed to ensure rapid access, with the nearest AED reachable within a mere 3 minutes, reinforcing the commitment to providing immediate assistance to those in need.
