Rome mandates defibrillators in large restaurants
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The Rome city government, led by Roberto Gualtieri, is requiring over 1,800 restaurants larger than 250 square meters to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
City officials, including council members Sandro Petrolati and Lorenzo Marinone, developed the initiative after witnessing successful rescues. The new rule aims to increase the number of AEDs across Rome from approximately 2,000 to over 4,000, expanding access to life-saving equipment.
The project includes free training courses for citizens and restaurant staff on how to use the devices and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Farmacap will manage course bookings through an online platform. The Sapienza University of Rome’s Department of Medical and Cardiovascular Sciences is providing scientific oversight, working with partners like ARES 118 and the Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS. Italy sees around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, and quick intervention significantly improves survival rates.
By equipping restaurants with AEDs, Rome hopes to enable faster responses before medical professionals arrive. City leaders envision the initiative establishing Rome as a leading example of public health and safety in Italy.
