Avis Rent A Car is the first rental car provider to install life-saving defibrillators at 20 locations throughout New Zealand, including Dunedin.
Avis Dunedin Airport branch manager David Scoullar said although he hoped they would not have to use the defibrillator, it was reassuring to know there was one on hand as the centre at the airport terminal was some distance from the nearest defibrillator.
"Having a defibrillator installed at our Dunedin Airport Vehicle Service Centre will not only benefit our own Avis team but will be accessible to the estimated 45 other service centre staff located in other buildings in the vicinity.''
Otago Health Care ambassador Joanne Arthur said a person who experienced a cardiac arrest was 40% more likely to survive if a defibrillator was used.
"Dunedin locals are very aware of the importance of heart health and the need for defibrillators in our community.
"The more locations in Dunedin that have these devices, the more people we can save.''
In recognition of the country's growing Asian population and booming tourist numbers, a Chinese translation for the instructions will sit alongside the new defibrillators.
Auckland DHB resuscitation co-ordinator Gareth Jenkin, who set up a Kiwi app to map defibrillator locations (www.aedlocations.co.nz), is thrilled at the prospect of an additional 20 defibrillators.
He believed this would bring the national tally up to 7000.
STAFF REPORTER
