The Taipei health authorities are working on a plan to make the citys 2,000 convenience stores part of Taipeis first aid network, officials of the city governments Department of Health said on Monday.

The officials said the plan will see convenience store employees offered the opportunity to go on training programs so that they can be issued with first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation （CPR） certification.

The convenience stores, found in every community and operating on a 24-hour basis, are closely entwined with the daily lives of Taipei residents, the officials said, adding that with appropriate training, these stores can supplement the emergency medical services provided by hospital emergency rooms and the citys Fire Department.

Kao Wei-chun, a city government section chief in charge of medical services administration, said the city government hopes at least 70 percent of the 2,000 convenience stores can obtain CPR and first aid certification by the end of this year.

She said convenience store employees will also be invited to join the citys suicide prevention services in the near future.

Taipeis convenience stores belong to five chains: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK and Nikomart.

Kuo Shih-wei, a manager of the 7-Eleven chain, said the some 300 7-Eleven stores owned directly by President Chain Store Corp. have already obtained CPR and first aid certification.

He added that 7-Eleven will ask its franchise stores to do the same to provide customers with better services.

7-Eleven has announced on it Web site that its stores not only will be good neighbors aiming to improve the quality of life, but will also serve as community service centers.