Heathcote hearts in good hands

HEATHCOTE residents honed their CPR skills recently at a stall run by Ambulance Victoria at the Lions Market.

Approximately 80 people attended the location where they learned about the Call Push Shock program and the GoodSAM smartphone app.

“We were very pleased with the turnout and how interested people were to be involved in helping their community,” said Heathcote based Ambulance Victoria community officer Elizabeth Norrie.

“As a regional town, we all need to work together to help each other out and the Heart Safe Communities program empowers residents to feel confident to take action when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.”

Heart Safe Communities is a joint initiative between AV and the Heart Foundation and aims to equip people with the skills to take lifesaving action.

Heathcote is one of 12 towns that commenced the program in August.

The Call Push Shock program teaches three simple steps to save a life: Call (Triple zero or 000), Push (perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED – automated external defibrillator).

Attendees were also invited to sign up to the GoodSAM app.

“It was good to have five people sign up as GoodSAM responders because we know bystander intervention has the greatest impact on improving someone’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest,” said Ms Norrie.

“GoodSAM is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start hands-only CRP in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.”

As part of the Heart Safe Communities program, Call Push Shock sessions will be held in Heathcote through to mid-next year.