Showcasing the new AED at Rochester’s ambulance station are (from left) ambulance community officers Nicole Hickey and Lindsey Macague, paramedic Ethan Rolfe, acting team manager Kate Familari and ambulance community officer David Harris with their new AED. Photo: Emily Donohoe
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Emily Donohoe
October marks the beginning of the annual Ambulance Victoria Shocktober campaign, looking to encourage the community to call, push, shock — the three steps for improved cardiac arrest survival.
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Call, Push, Shock is an Ambulance Victoria initiative for bystander invention during cardiac arrest, asking them to call 000, perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available.
Every day, about 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest, with only one in 10 surviving.
Loddon Mallee community engagement liaison co-ordinator Rhiannon Kelly emphasised the high rates of cardiac arrest outside hospitals in rural Victoria compared to metro areas.
“Rural Victorians are more likely to experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest than metropolitan Victorians,” she said.
“(That is) 157 per 100,000 people (compared to) 118 per 100,000 people.”
Initiatives like Shocktober and Ambulance Victoria’s GoodSAM app can improve these numbers and potentially boost survival.
The chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent per minute that CPR is delayed, making bystander intervention critical in increasing the chance of patient survival.
The purpose of Shocktober is to build awareness about cardiac arrest, how to perform CPR and how to use an AED.
Ambulance Victoria Loddon Mallee region will host a series of Call, Push, Shock sessions throughout October.
The Rochester sessions will be held at an open day for the new ambulance branch at 22 Mackay St on Wednesday, October 30.
An AED has been installed outside the station and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A second device has also been given to the Rochester Senior Citizens’ Club.
The devices have been funded through donations to the Rochester Ambulance Auxiliary.
“The community give donations to the station,” Rochester acting team manager Kate Familiari said.
“Dave (Harris) thought, ‘why not use some of those donations and buy an AED and container to pop it in?’.
“We’ve got another container but not AED, which we’re hoping to get somewhere over the other side of the bridge so that there’s one over that side that’s 24 hours.”
Rochester Senior Citizens' Club members with their new AED after a Call, Push, Shock session with Ambulance Victoria staff. Photo: Supplied
Ambulance Victoria Loddon Mallee regional director Brett Drummond emphasised the important role bystanders could play in potentially saving lives.
“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrest and when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles,” he said.
“Last year, paramedics responded to a record 7830 cardiac arrest patients, but there was also a record amount of bystander intervention.
“Anyone can perform CPR and use an AED — you don’t need training or to be qualified.
“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions.”
Even if a bystander has not been trained in first aid or taught CPR, Ambulance Victoria stresses that all it involves is pushing hard and fast in the middle of a person’s chest.
Victoria has the best cardiac arrest survival rates in Australia and high rates of bystander intervention.
“There are a number of things you can do to help contribute to better cardiac arrest survival rates in Victoria,” Mr Drummond said.
“I encourage everyone to sign up as a GoodSAM responder — it’s a smartphone app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
“We have around 16,000 GoodSAM responders across the state, but we always need more.
“You don’t have to be first-aid qualified, you just have to be willing to perform hands-only CPR and be over 18 years old.
“Last Shocktober, we saw more than 600 people sign up as GoodSAM responders, so this October, please join the cause and register.”
Any business owners, sports clubs, schools and community groups are encouraged to list their AEDs through the site, ensuring information is accurate and up-to-date.
More than 13,000 AEDs are registered in Victoria with the platform.
