Defibs aim to save lives in Smythesdale

THERE are currently twelve automated external defibrillators in Smythesdale with three publicly accessible.

Confirmation of the numbers came as Ambulance Victoria announced the town is officially one of 20 Heart Safe Communities in Victoria.

The program is a partnership between AV and Heart Foundation and aims to improve survival rates from cardiac arrest by increasing access to AEDs, teaching people CPR and how to use the defibrillators, as well as registering their locations on a smartphone app.

“While bystanders alone will never replace an ambulance service, equipping people with skills to start the chain of survival – starting chest compressions or CPR and using an AED does save lives,” said Mel Buckingham, Ambulance Victoria’s operations community engagement liaison coordinator.

“Anyone can save a life in three simple steps. Call, Push, Shock. Call triple zero, push hard and fast on the middle of the chest, and shock using an AED.”

The move to make Smythesdale a Heart Safe Community comes as Ambulance Victoria’s response times in Golden Plains, and especially the north of the Shire are some of the worst in the state.

Figures from 1 April to 30 June for the whole of Golden Plans showed just over 35 per cent of code one calls, the most urgent with full lights and sirens, reached patients within AV’s 15-minute benchmark.

The average response time for code one calls across the Shire was 19 minutes and nine seconds based on 237 calls for help over the three-month reporting period.

With people waiting long and potentially non-survivable times when suffering cardiac arrest, Ms Buckingham said automated external defibrillators were one of the keys to helping people.

“Anyone can use an AED, regardless of whether they have received training to do so,” she said.

“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the verbal instructions. They are safe and easy to use and will not deliver a shock unless it is necessary.”

Ms Buckingham also urged people to sign up to the GoodSAM Responder app.

The app sends people nearby a notification when someone needs CPR and asks community members to help respond.

“Anyone can save a life by going to heartrestarter.com.au and signing up,” she said.

“You don’t have to have experience or a medical background, you just have to be willing and able to do hands-on CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone.”

Smythesdale’s all hours access AEDs are situated at Smythesdale Animal Hospital on Brooke Street, the Police station on Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road and at the Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre on Lords Road.