To ensure there is no heartbreak this Valentine's Day, the Federation Ageing Well Committee is doing their bit by raising awareness about the importance of knowing CPR and being familiar with the nearest Automated External Defibrillator (AED), in case you need it in the event of an emergency.
Around 25,000 Australians suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital every year. The quicker a person in cardiac arrest receives CPR and defibrillation (if possible), not only improves their chances of survival but it can also help to improve the chances of them recovering fully and reduces the time to do so. Using a defib in the minutes before an ambulance arrives can double someone's chances of survival. In fact, research has shown that early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation in the first eight to ten minutes sees survival rates jump from 6% up to 75%.
Ageing Well Committee member, Yvonne Perrin wants people to know that the growing health issue of sudden cardiac arrest has a response we can all participate in, "You can play your part in making our community a safer place for everyone by completing a first aid course and having the skills and confidence to respond effectively with CPR, and knowing where the nearest defibrillator is located."
A defibrillator (sometimes called a 'defib', or AED if it's an automated external defibrillator) can save someone's life if they have a cardiac arrest. They are easy to use and take up no more room than a fire extinguisher. Those shocked by a public defibrillator had an impressive 47% survival rate, far higher than the 26% survival for those who were shocked first by paramedics.
"In the last few years, we have seen a number of public accessible defibs be installed across the Council area that are available 24 /7. There is now one outside the Hume Bank in Corowa and Howlong, Club Corowa, Oaklands RSL & Bowling Club, Balldale Hotel, and the Howlong Football Netball Club. Along with many local sports and community groups having defibrillators available in the club rooms," said Yvonne. "Knowing that there is AEDs that any community member can access at any time is comforting for many older people, especially those that live in our rural towns and villages where emergency services may take up to 45 minutes to arrive due to the distance."
The Ageing Well Committee have recently been discussing at their meetings AED Locator apps such as the Heart of the Nation app. "One of the committee members mentioned Heart of the Nation, created by the original yellow Wiggle, Greg Page OAM, which has an app that you can download onto your phone, "said Ageing Well Ageing Well Committee member, Wendy Eyers.
"If you are willing and able to perform CPR, and are aged 18 or older, you can also register yourself as a community responder such as Good SAM to via the NSW Ambulance. It can call 000 for you, alert nearby responders when a cardiac arrest is happening so they can help with CPR, and deliver an AED and provides a map of devices nearby."
Wendy is also encouraging community groups, businesses and organisations with publicly accessible defibrillators to ensure their defibrillator is registered on the NSW Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Register, "Spending a few minutes and registering your defibrillator could make a real difference in saving someone's life giving the responder real time access to AED locations and their availability,"
The NSW Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Register is NSW Government imitative which will assist first responders in providing first aid, while also allowing communities, town planners and researchers to understand the availability of AEDs across NSW and look at opportunities to install new ones. As a person responsible for one or more AEDs, you can register your AEDs through your Service NSW account, following the prompts to 'Register my AED' or by going directly to register.aed.nsw.gov.au.
