In recent years, there has been a growing public awareness of the importance of responding quickly in the event of a medical emergency. The statistics are inexorable – according to the data, there are about 50,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in Poland every year, and the chances of survival dramatically decrease with every minute without proper assistance. In response to these needs, the city of Kedzierzyn-Kozle has carried out actions to increase the availability of AED defibrillators.

The “Save Because You Can” campaign is an initiative to educate residents about first aid, and most importantly to purchase AED defibrillators, which save lives in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. The premise is simple – the more devices in public spaces, the faster the response time and the greater the chance of saving a life. In addition, the campaign aims to raise general awareness of AEDs and train as many people as possible in the use of these devices.

Thanks to an extensive information campaign and the involvement of local communities, the “Save Because You Can” campaign contributed to the purchase and installation of eleven new AED defibrillators at strategic points in the city. The involvement of schools, local offices and businesses increased the reach of the campaign, translating directly into the amount of equipment purchased. The new AED devices are now an important part of the life-saving infrastructure, available to every resident and visitor to the city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle.