RESIDENTS at Meredith have a new grab and go option if anyone in the district suffers a cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
A modern automatic external defibrillator has been installed on the outside of the Community Centre on Russell Street, and with the town so far from rapid ambulance response people are being encouraged to use the device if needs be.<\/p>\n
\u201cTime is of the essence in a cardiac arrest,\u201d said Peter Boer from Meredith\u2019s volunteer Community Emergency Response Team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sooner that you can get CPR and good defibrillation, the better the outcome possibility for the patient.<\/p>\n
\u201cCERT are not on duty all the time, so anytime, night and day, if people know there\u2019s an AED here, they can access it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new AED was purchased and installed with the help of a $3000 grant from the Moorabool Wind Farm and replaces an old device no longer located at the former doctor\u2019s surgery.<\/p>\n
While applying a 200-plus-kilojoule shock to someone\u2019s chest might seem daunting, Meredith Community Centre manager Leah Phillips was mindful that the positioning of the AED meant anyone could use it to save a life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means that the school, the kindergarten, and the occasional care kids can all use it, as well as the whole of Meredith has access and knows where it is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of where the Centre is situated, and the community knows we\u2019re here, we wanted the AED to be part of the community and have access to it should the need occur.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of getting people comfortable with the defibrator and encouraging its use, Ms Phillips said the Community Centre would be holding some training sessions.<\/p>\n
Interest in using the device might also have an extra benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe plan to run some courses in relation to how to use it with all the kids as well as the families,\u201d Ms Phillips said. \u201cIt might also give the CERT, hopefully, some more volunteers.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, effective use of the AED isn\u2019t dependent on being trained in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt tells you what to do,\u201d Mr Boer said. \u201cIt\u2019s completely safe and certainly talks you through things.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it saves one life it\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RESIDENTS at Meredith have a new grab and go option if anyone in the district suffers a cardiac arrest. A modern automatic external defibrillator has been installed on the outside of the Community Centre on Russell Street, and with the town so far from rapid ambulance response people are being encouraged to use the device […]<\/p>\n