In April 2024, an AED support initiative at Shanghai's Gongyi Xintiandi Park brought together public-access equipment, more inclusive wayfinding, education and equipment upkeep. Sinoaid Health Promotion Center contributed to the project with attention to visitors with visual impairments.
Why access matters in a public place
An AED can help in a sudden cardiac arrest only if someone recognises the emergency, can locate the device and can bring it to the person while others call for help and begin CPR. A public venue includes people with different levels of familiarity with the site, different languages and different access needs. Equipment placement and communication therefore matter alongside the AED itself.
What the project included
The Gongyi Xintiandi Park project included Braille labels on the exterior of AED cabinets as part of an accessibility-oriented approach. It also brought AED education, practical learning and routine checking into the support plan. The work addressed both how people find the device and how a venue keeps it usable.
The distinctive feature is the combination of equipment visibility and inclusive access with the less visible work of teaching people what the device is for and keeping it ready. Braille is one part of an accessible environment; it does not by itself solve every wayfinding or response challenge. A venue planning a similar programme can review signage, opening hours, staff awareness, inspection responsibility and how callers describe the AED location to responders.
Where this experience fits
This project forms part of Sinoaid's community health and emergency-preparedness experience. It can inform conversations with public venues, nonprofit partners and organisations considering AED access, while each new site needs its own placement and maintenance plan. Explore the First Aid gateway, AED programmes and the Case Studies archive for related pathways.