Mandatory defibrillators in 1800 restaurants and free life-saving courses: the “Roma Defibrilla” initiative (to be replicated in all cities)

Rome takes a decisive step towards the health safety of the community thanks to the Roma Defibrilla initiative, promoted by the administration of Roberto Gualtieri. The heart of the measure lies in the proposed amendment to the Regulation for the supply of food and drinks, which arrived at the Capitoline Assembly. The new legislation introduces the obligation to install a semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) for all catering businesses with an area open to the public exceeding 250 square metres.

This regulatory intervention will directly involve over 1,800 commercial businesses spread across the entire urban fabric of the capital. The estimated impact of the measure will be impressive: the city’s network of life-saving equipment will go from around 2,000 units currently registered to over 4,000, effectively doubling the widespread presence of facilities for timely rescue.

The protagonists of the initiative and the training for citizens and operators

The genesis of the proposal arises from the sensitivity of local institutions and from direct testimonies of lives saved. Among the promoters are Sandro Petrolati, Capitoline councilor of Demos, Lorenzo Marinone, president of the Budget Commission, and Andrea Alemanni, president of the Trade Commission, supported by the councilor for Productive Activities Valeria Baglio.

To transform commercial activities into real prevention facilities, the project integrates a network of free training courses aimed at all citizens and local staff. Reservations will be managed via an IT platform managed by Farmacap, allowing you to select dates and locations according to availability. The initiative is based on the scientific coordination of the Department of Medical and Cardiovascular Sciences of the Sapienza University of Rome, supported by excellent partners such as ARES 118, IRCCS Lazzaro Spallanzani, Fondazione Giorgio Castelli, Rete Emergenze ODV and E il tuo cuore ancora batte APS.

The importance of the first minutes against out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

In Italy there are around 60,000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year, events in which the speed of the first interventions determines the patient’s chances of survival. Since the first minutes after the onset of the crisis are decisive to avoid irreversible damage, the presence of an AED device inside a large restaurant allows anyone to act before medical help arrives.

Recognizing public places as having a social function of protecting health transforms the Roman trade network into a widespread guarantee for residents, workers and tourists. The integration between the technological equipment in the exercises and the learning of the correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers constitutes the pillar of an ambitious strategy, intended to position the Capital as a cutting-edge model in the field of health safety and prevention on the national territory.