Help is close: KLIA rolls out life-saving upgrades for travellers

Help is close: KLIA rolls out life-saving upgrades for travellers

KLIA equips its frontliners and staff with Heartsaver and basic life support training, pairing hands-on drills with new medical and emergency response equipment across both terminals.

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Airport staff practise life-saving techniques during Malaysia Airports’s Public Health Emergency Response Campaign 2025 training session at KLIA. (Muhammad Rabbani @ FMT)
KUALA LUMPUR:
Every journey into Malaysia begins with a first step, and for millions of travellers, that step is at KLIA.

Behind the travel experience, however, lies a layer of care that often goes unnoticed: the quiet and consistent work of those who safeguard passengers’ health and safety. While travellers focus on flights and destinations, KLIA’s emergency response teams stand ready, ensuring that help is never far away.

KLIA’s Public Health Emergency Response Campaign 2025 shines a light on these unsung heroes, strengthening the readiness and resilience of those trained to act when it matters most.

With over 41 million passengers served as of August 2025, KLIA is one of Southeast Asia’s busiest travel hubs. The surge in travellers also means greater responsibility to protect travellers in moments of crisis, whether a cardiac arrest, breathing difficulty, or a minor injury.

“There have been more than 1,700 emergency deployments to date this year, with 45 involving cardiac arrests. Each call reminds us why every second, every response, and every trained hand truly matters,” said Abd Hasman Abd Muhimim, general manager of operations, KLIA Terminal 1.

AEDs deployed, staff trained to act

Among the campaign’s most visible upgrades is the installation of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). As of October, 62 AED units had been installed – 28 at KLIA Terminal 1 and 34 at Terminal 2 – with another 30 in the procurement pipeline, ensuring that help is never out of reach.

But equipment alone doesn’t save lives; people do. That’s why KLIA is investing in Heartsaver and basic life support (BLS) training for the airport community. These sessions are designed to give staff the skills to act decisively in emergencies.

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AED kits and emergency phones stationed at key points in KLIA Terminal 1.  (VitalFour pic)

KLIA’s aviation security officer (AVSEC) Haiqal Juan, who helped save a man in his 70s earlier this year, affirmed the airport’s readiness.

“At every checkpoint and every part of the airport, there are AEDs on standby, and there will always be medical and security officers patrolling nearby. It’s very easy for passengers to access medical help,” he said.

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Haiqal Juan being recognised for his efforts in assisting a man who collapsed earlier this year. (Muhammad Rabbani @ FMT)

Paramedics-on-Wheels deliver life-saving speed

Another standout initiative is the Paramedic-on-Wheels programme, which equips paramedics with e-scooters carrying oxygen tanks, trauma kits, and AEDs. These mobile responders can reach emergency scenes more quickly than traditional responders, especially in densely populated areas.

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An airport medical officer demonstrates the new Paramedic-on-Wheels e-bike, launched in June this year. (Muhammad Rabbani @ FMT)

For KLIA’s AVSEC, customer experience management, and terminal services division teams, this responsibility is critical. Their readiness can mean the difference between life and death.

“Their response time is less than five minutes, and once they arrive, they can start the CPR process immediately.

“With their radio, they can also call for a code blue so that the other paramedics can arrive faster, within eight minutes,” said Dr Rasheed Ahamed, executive director of Medilife, KLIA’s medical service provider since 2017.

Three ambulances are also stationed outside the terminals for extended medical support.

Rapid response, resilient communities

Staff and stakeholders also took part in simulations, talks, and skills challenges. Frontliners underwent Heartsaver and BLS courses led by certified trainers, practising CPR and AED use on mannequins to simulate real-life conditions.

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Airport staff receiving and practicing crucial life-saving techniques during the training session. (Muhammad Rabbani @ FMT)

The campaign reflects a broader shift in how airports are viewed: not just as transit hubs, but as communities where safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Rasheed said life-saving training began in August and would continue in phases through 2025.

GTR officer Solehin Ridzuan, who completed his first emergency course, said: “Emergencies can happen any time. Once we learn, we’re more confident.”

Airport CARE ambassador Nurin Nazreen Jan Feroz Khan, meanwhile, said that she had gained an essential skill.

“If someone collapses in front of me, I won’t be afraid, I’ll use what I learned to help,” she said.

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Airport ground staff share how the BLS training has boosted their confidence to act effectively in medical emergencies. (Muhammad Rabbani @ FMT)

Every safe journey begins with a team ready to act

“Passengers can now travel with confidence,” Rasheed said. “Our teams are well-equipped for anything, be it emergencies, high-risk flights and even minor ailments.”

As KLIA continues to elevate its standards of care, one message stands out – the airport is not just Malaysia’s gateway to the world – it’s a place where every traveller is protected by a network of professionals trained, equipped, and ready to respond.

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