Groundbreaking defibrillator trial saves a life

THANKS to a clinical trial aiming to improve access to automated external defibrillators, a Heathcote mother spent Christmas with her family after suffering a cardiac arrest in September.

Thirty-year-old Bernadette Troy recently met the first responders who saved her life.

“I don’t remember very much about it,” she said. “I was jogging with my three children at the newly formed running group and told my son I didn’t feel very well.

“I don’t remember anything after that. It is amazing to be reunited with the people who saved me.”

Steph Conduit was running with the group for the first time when she saw Ms Troy collapse.

“I am first aid trained,” she said. “I immediately called for an ambulance and started CPR when I noticed she wasn’t breathing.”

As an ambulance was dispatched, an alert was also sent to local GoodSAM responders, including off-duty Heathcote Ambulance Community Officer Lee Ridsdale.

GoodSAM is a life-saving app connecting patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer willing to start hand-only CPR while paramedics are on their way.

A recent trial has been underway to provide active GoodSAM responders with a potentially life-saving device, a fully automatic single use defibrillator.

The device can be deployed in seconds.

Ms Ridsdale is one of the GoodSAM responders equipped with the new CellAED as part of the FIRST trial led by Ambulance Victoria (AV) and Hato Hone St John New Zealand.

“To be honest I had my doubts,” said Ms Ridsdale. “They give 75 or 80 joule shocks whereas when I’m an ACO we give shocks of 200 joules.

“But I’m a convert now because I’ve seen it in action, and they can make a huge difference going forward.”

Ms Troy was airlifted to Melbourne by one of AV’s air ambulance helicopters and was well enough to be discharged a week later.

“I am deeply grateful to the incredible individuals, Wade and Steph, whose quick thinking and life-saving CPR made all the difference that day.

“Their knowledge and immediate action was nothing short of heroic.

“I also can’t thank Lee enough; her expertise and calm presence, along with the amazing team from AV who attended, were truly life-saving.

“I’m not sure how I would have fared without them; I probably wouldn’t be here with my family today.”

“The Heathcote community is incredibly lucky to have Lee as a GoodSAM responder and as part of the FIRST trial.

“We’re so fortunate to live in such a tight-knit, caring community, with outstanding members and first responders who make a world of difference.”

Ms Ridsdale said it was a wonderful feeling when she learned Ms Troy had survived.

“She came home to her husband and her three young kids, and for me, that is a win every day of the week,” she said.

“This was the first cardiac arrest I’ve attended where I’ve been confronted with someone younger, someone around the same age as my kids.

“It just shows how well things can work in our small communities – having GoodSAM, having the CellAED and then having AV resources backing us up.”

The FIRST trial began in November 2022 and is due to finish in February 2025.

Since it started, the FIRST trial has seen almost 200 CellAEDs being deployed to cardiac arrest patients across Victoria and New Zealand.