In keeping with their vision of ‘quality assets that serve the Cook Islands people’, the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) has recently purchased three life-saving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices for some of the public facilities it manages, adding to the already impressive number of AEDs located around Rarotonga.
AEDs are portable electronic devices that have been proven to save lives in case of sudden cardiac arrest. Designed to be simple to use and easy to handle, AEDs can automatically diagnose a person’s heart rhythm and determine if an electric shock is needed to help re-establish an effective rhythm.
The three new AEDs purchased by CIIC are now located at both the BCI National Stadium and National Sports Arena in Nikao and the Punanga Nui market in Avarua. They bring the total number of AEDs available for public use on Rarotonga to 37, including three mobile AEDs.
“The Cook Islands Investment Corporation recognises how important it is to have these life-saving devices available should the public need to use them, particularly at often-busy CIIC-managed locations like the market, the stadium and the sports arena,” said CIIC Chair Michael Henry.
Secretary of Health Bob Williams agrees. “When it comes to treating something as serious as cardiac arrest, speed is of the essence and having an AED close to hand in the event of an emergency could well save someone’s life. This is an excellent initiative that is fully supported by Te Marae Ora.”
So that the general public might make best use of these devices, CIIC has worked in conjunction with TMO, the Cook Islands Red Cross Society and Brent Fisher from the Water and Road Safety Councils to prepare a map of all 34 AEDs located at permanent spots around Rarotonga.
“It is our hope that this map will serve as a useful tool for the general public and I urge everyone to get to know it and to learn where their nearest AED is located,” said Henry.
Most of the island’s AEDs are concentrated in the north and north-west from Arorangi to Tupapa and in the south-east around Muri. For those in the north-east, your closest AEDs are located at Club Raro in Tupapa and the KAPS petrol station in Matavera. For those in the south-west, you will find your nearest AEDs at the Puaikura Fire Station, Wigmores Superstore and YWAM.
“It is heartening to see that we have so many government facilities, private businesses and other organisations that now have an AED on their premises,” said Water and Road Safety Council member Brent Fisher, who also runs training courses on how to use AEDs. “This can only be a positive thing for the people of the Cook Islands.”
Click Here for a copy of the AED map for Rarotonga.
The AED locations as marked are based on information sourced from the community and are correct as of 20 May 2021. It is the intention of CIIC that the map will be updated periodically to keep it as current as possible.
