AN automated external defibrillator, or AED, is now available for public access at the Scarsdale Fire Station.<\/p>\n
A $2000 donation from the Country Womens Association\u2019s Scarsdale branch has funded the lifesaving tech, and assistant secretary Anne Wilson said it\u2019s a much-needed community asset.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a defibrillator in the Scarsdale community but it\u2019s in the local kindergarten and locked so it isn\u2019t accessible for the public very easily,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this one, we can just go and grab it whenever we need to now, so it\u2019ll certainly be helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the event of cardiac arrest, an AED can be used by anyone, whether they have first aid training or not.<\/p>\n
The local CWA regularly offers financial support to community initiatives, generating funds by selling craft items and baked goods at the Smythesdale Country Market.<\/p>\n
Ms Wilson said the defibrillator was \u201ctop of the list,\u201d following an online consultation during lockdown with Ambulance Victoria, who provided the equipment.<\/p>\n
The defibrillator is located at the depot\u2019s exterior, with the battery set to be replaced every five years, but Ms Wilson said it wouldn\u2019t hurt for the town to have a third.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely been a demand for a more publicly accessible defibrillator here in our community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cScarsdale and Smythesdale are pretty connected, so as we\u2019ve bought this, the Smythesdale Progress Association have decided they\u2019d like to get one now for the local camping ground.\u201d<\/p>\n
Members of the Scarsdale CWA will lobby the municipality to install directional signage to inform passers-by of the AED, which was installed earlier this month.<\/p>\n
The CWA branch also received a certificate of appreciation from Ambulance Victoria\u2019s Grampians operations community engagement liaison coordinator Mel Buckingham, for their commitment to the health of their neighbours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN automated external defibrillator, or AED, is now available for public access at the Scarsdale Fire Station. A $2000 donation from the Country Womens Association\u2019s Scarsdale branch has funded the lifesaving tech, and assistant secretary Anne Wilson said it\u2019s a much-needed community asset. \u201cThere is a defibrillator in the Scarsdale community but it\u2019s in the […]<\/p>\n