Community kickstarts defibrillators

A COMMUNITY campaign to install automated defibrillators in the Bellarine Peninsula has paid off, with two new units now ready for use.

Residents and traders worked together to fund and install the new defibrillators at IGA supermarkets in Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff.

The two Automated External Defibrillators, or AED machines, are located in marked and unlocked boxes at IGA supermarkets and are the first defibrillators available 24/7 in the Borough.

David Jarman ran the campaign to install the machines after realising the Borough didn’t have any defibrillators that could be accessed at any time of day.

“Having defibrillators available for public use will make our community safer,” Mr Jarman said.

“While we hope the defibrillators never need to be used, we’re now better prepared to respond quickly to an emergency in our community.”

Other members of the community, including Point Lonsdale IGA owner Tamara Gaylard, joined Mr Jarman’s campaign, organising training in using the new machines.

“We organised training by Ambulance Victoria, and invited our staff and other traders to take part so we all know how to use a defibrillator in an emergency,” Ms Gaylard said.

“Hosting these defibrillators on our stores is part of how we can give back to a community we love.”

Borough of Queenscliffe mayor Ross Ebbels joined Mr Jarman to promote the new defibrillators.

“These new defibrillators are a testament to the fantastic initiative of our community.

“I want to thank Bendigo Bank and the Queenscliff Point Lonsdale Community Enterprise for providing part of the funding for the new equipment, as well as David and the other members of our community who raised much-needed funds.”

24/7 defibrillators can save lives by ensuring heart attack victims receive immediate treatment while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Applying defibrillation within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest can increase the chance of survival by more than 70 per cent, compared to less than 5 per cent without a defibrillator.