This Shocktober, learn how to help save a life

Ambulance Victoria (AV) has just launched its life-saving annual campaign Shocktober, which calls on the Geelong community to learn the three simple steps to improve cardiac arrest survival rates – Call, Push, Shock.

About 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day and only one in 10 survive, which is why it’s crucial that people know what to do.

Bystander intervention has the greatest impact on improving someone’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest – for every minute that CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.

Shocktober is a month-long cardiac arrest awareness campaign to highlight the importance of learning CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

AV acting regional director for Barwon South West Jess McGowan said people did not have to be a paramedic to be a life saver – it was as easy as calling Triple Zero (000), pushing hard and fast in the middle of the person’s chest, and using an AED (if available) to deliver a shock.

“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrest and when a patient receives CPR and a shock before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.

“Last year, paramedics responded to a record 7,830 cardiac arrest patients but there was also a record amount of bystander intervention.

“Anyone can perform CPR and use an AED – you don’t need training or to be qualified.

“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the verbal instructions.”

A recent example was in Highton during September 2023, when three bystanders located a nearby AED to help save the life of 71-year-old Graeme Best, who suffered a cardiac arrest while riding his bike.

AV will be out and about hosting community engagement sessions across the region.

Last October, AV organised 340 Shocktober events that reached more than 6,700 Victorians.

While Victoria has the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia, and among the best in the world, Ms McGowan said there was more to be done and AV needed your help.

“There are a number of things you can do to help contribute to better cardiac arrest survival rates in Victoria,” Ms McGowan said.

“I encourage everyone to sign up as a GoodSAM responder – it’s a smartphone app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.”

She said there were about 16,000 GoodSAM responders across the state, but there was always a need for more.

“You don’t have to be first aid qualified, you just have to be willing to perform hands-only CPR and be over 18.

“Last Shocktober, we saw more than 600 people sign up as GoodSAM responders, so this October, please join the cause and register.”

Businesses, shop owners and sports clubs are also encouraged to ensure their AEDs are registered with the AV website and made publicly accessible, so 000 call takers can direct people to it in an emergency.

There are presently more than 13,000 AEDs registered with AV across Victoria.

For more information about Shocktober, the GoodSAM app and how to perform CPR and use an AED, head to ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober

To register your publicly accessible AED, head to registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au