The World Assembly,
Concerned that no resolution to ensure that the provision of basic medical devices outside of medical centers exists,
Finding that the general public can provide critical medical assistance in emergencies before the arrival of first responders when they have access to emergency equipment and proper training,
Seeking to set standards for the availability of basic medical devices and the education of the public on the methods necessary to operate basic medical devices and perform basic life support maneuvers,
Hereby,
1. Defines for the purpose of this resolution:
- Basic Medical Devices as:
- AED (automated external defibrillator) devices,
- First Aid kits as devices equipped with the necessary supplies, not including medication, to:
- Preserve life when a medical emergency occurs,
- Prevent the worsening of a medical emergency,
- Aid the recovery of a victim, and
- Instruct a user how to use the equipment;
- Opiate overdose prevention kits equipped with tools and medications to:
- Preserve life when an opiate overdose emergency occurs,
- Prevent the worsening of an opiate overdose emergency,
- Aid the recovery of a victim,
- Block the effects of opioids, and
- Instruct a user how to use the equipment;
- Basic life support maneuvers as:
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and
- Abdominal thrust maneuvers;
- Public Spaces as buildings and areas that are:
- Utilized for exercise or sport,
- Highly trafficked or used spaces that are notably larger than what a typical residential (single-family homes) or small commercial space (small retail shops and restaurants) can accommodate,
- Workspaces or schools, and
- Any WA and member state government buildings;
- Victim as a person who has had a medical emergency that requires the usage of a basic medical device or basic life support maneuvers;
2. Requires that member states place basic medical devices in public spaces;
3. Additionally requires that those basic medical devices are:
- Placed in public spaces in a number determined by:
- The size of the public space, and
- The probability of the devices being used more regularly;
- Clearly visible to persons within the space by utilizing:
- High visibility material,
- Signs, and
- Placement at a height that the majority of the population can reach;
- Accessible to any person at any time without unnecessary burden,
- Equipped with systems that prevent the device from being activated for non-medical scenarios,
- Inspected a minimum of once a month for maintenance problems or missing parts, and
- Kept clean and sanitized at all times;
4. Mandates that member states prescribe a curriculum for their students, in a manner appropriate to said students' age, with an understanding of the following to the point that students can perform life-saving measures themselves:
- How to properly operate basic medical devices and their contents,
- The general location of basic medical devices, and
- Generally how to perform basic life support maneuvers effectively and safely;
5. Instructs the World Assembly General Fund to assist member states who cannot afford the purchasing, installation within public spaces, and maintenance of basic medical devices through subsidization, which cannot be used by a member state for any purpose other than funding the acquisition, installation, or maintenance of basic medical devices; nor may any member state attempt to circumvent this requirement through the diversion of existing funds that would otherwise be used to acquire, install, or maintain basic medical devices;
6. Tasks the WHA (World Heath Authority) with approving all requests for such subsidization, where on the balance of probabilities, the risk of serious injury and harm to persons would, if not for such subsidization, be more likely than not in the case of a medical emergency; and
7. Additionally tasks the WHA with advising member states with institutionally improving their medical device and pharmaceutical industries, so that nations may be less vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions for critical medical supplies.
