Bluesky donates defibrillators to the public

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In celebration of its 23 years in the territory, Bluesky Communications donated six Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machines to the public buildings that are well used by the public.

At a brief event held at the Bluesky Network operations center in Ili’ili, yesterday ASG officials attended to receive the defibrillators, as they are known.

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are portable, life-saving devices designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating suddenly and unexpectedly.

The combination of CPR and early defibrillation is effective in saving lives when used in the first few minutes following collapse from sudden cardiac arrest.

For the Stadium, the equipment was handed over to the Sports Complex in Tafuna where director Asuega Bill Kalasa; and deputy director Gago Fa'atafa attended..

The Airport’s AED was handed over to Tavita Fuimaono and Monica Ve’ave’a who received their equipment for Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs.

BlueSky CEO Justin Tuiasosopo told Samoa News the company decided that it was important for the specific locations to have AED machines in case of emergencies.

“We decided to look at places where the public frequently visits, noticing the stadium once the football season starts of the AYFS or JPS when they have their events there, that place can get crowded. The airport as well during flight nights it can get crowded and the two DYWA locations because a lot of events they put up.

“And the EOB not only for the workers but also the general public that visits these locations. “We tried to select locations where there are a high number of people on the daily basis.”

Tuiasosopo hopes this challenges companies to install AED’s for their staff and the public, if an emergency arises.

He said for Bluesky, in addition to the six AED’s for the public’s use, their office also has these defibrillators installed for emergencies elsewhere in the community.

[photos Leua Aiono Frost]