The Beating Heart:
Lighting up the City's Lifeline
Across the Netherlands, an enhanced emergency response system is taking shape.
One that most people pass every day without noticing, yet one that can make the difference between life and death. From railway stations to airport and supermarkets, to city streets, AEDs are becoming part of the country’s public safety infrastructure, extending emergency care far beyond hospital walls.
Where the City’s Heart Beats
If transport systems are the arteries of a city, then railway stations are its heart.
In the Netherlands, the railway network managed by ProRail and NS is the busiest in Europe, carrying millions of passengers every day. Stations sit at the center of this flow, connecting not only places, but people and moments. This also makes them critical points of vulnerability.
A sudden cardiac arrest can happen without warning, in the middle of a commute or on a crowded platform. When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, every second counts. Survival depends on the efficiency and readiness of the entire emergency response system.
A National First Aid System Along the Railway
The Netherlands is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading[1] countries in public-access defibrillation, with among the highest AED density, bystander response rates, and survival outcomes.
This leadership is especially important given one fact: around 70–80% of sudden cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals.[2] In these situations, immediate response is critical. Without intervention, survival chances drop rapidly with every passing minute.
Sander de Hek
Asset Manager
Prorail
A lot of stations are also located in the centre of cities. So by contributing to a network of further increasing public AEDs, it increases the chance of survival for people who are having a cardiac arrest who are closely to a station.
To address this, ProRail and NS have systematically integrated AEDs into the railway network, ensuring that every station is equipped as part of a nationwide initiative. Since 2021, deployment has expanded from 50 stations to 100% coverage.
* The statistics are current as of May 2026.
Each AED typically covers about a 500-meter area. In dense urban centers, this improves the accessibility of lifesaving devices.
Technology Empowering Every Rescuer
Aligned with the vision of ProRail and NS, Mindray supports the enhancement of emergency response system that meets the advanced international standards, addressing real-world challenges across diverse patient groups and scenarios.
Bert Glismeijer
Safety Advisor
NS Station
It's vital that AEDs are always ready for use. Maintaining these high standards in an efficient way is one of our key priorities.
During rescues, a compliant AED is not only technically qualified with extraordinary performance but also easy to use even for lay people.
Mindray’s AED solutions are designed with this in mind. Qshock™ delivers shocks rapidly to minimize interruptions during resuscitation, while supporting 360 joules to adapt to different patient conditions, for instance, patient with complex disease histories, ages, or body shapes.
At the same time, Mindray’s exclusive ResQNavi™ provides clear, step-by-step instructions, automatically offering more detailed prompts when hesitation is detected, to finish the rescue.
Extending connected healthcare into Everyday life:
Redefining the PAD Program Nationwide
The railway network forms a strong backbone, but the reach of this safety system extends much further. Across the Netherlands, Mindray AEDs are widely available in high-traffic public spaces, including Schiphol Airport and 90% of Dutch supermarkets, over 1500 units installed.
Together, these deployments form a comprehensive public-access defibrillation program, deeply embedded into daily life.
However, accessibility is only half the battle. Building an effective response system depends on more than just devices. Public awareness and CPR training are essential to leverage people's willingness and readiness to rescue, with more PAD programs being launched to wider regions and countries.
Weaving Safe Lifelines with Intelligent Solutions
Today, PAD programs do not only include standalone devices. It is an intelligent system linking bystanders, equipment, and emergency services for faster, coordinated responses. Each installation strengthens this lifeline, ensuring that while the city keeps moving, its beating heart is protected.
For Mindray, as a solution provider, it's a long-term commitment to safeguarding every journey and every life across the Netherlands. Together with our global partners, we are redefining public safety and enhancing the resilience of every community we serve.
Lighting up the beating heart of the city is not only about providing powerful products, but also about safeguarding all people and all communities with strength, resilience, and care. It is about building a future where all heartbeats are seen and protected. #AEDFORALL
References
[1] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12471-020-01504-z
[2]
https://www.erc.edu/for-everyone/what-is-cardiac-arrest/did-you-know-facts-figures/
