Every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest, not receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or automatic external defibrillator (AED) shock, chances of survival drop by 10 per cent.
Today is Restart a Heart Day – a national campaign aimed at improving survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and raising awareness of life-saving actions that friends, family, colleagues or bystanders can take in an emergency.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Guy Barnett, said that if you see someone having a cardiac arrest, the most important thing to do in that moment is to follow a three-step process – CALL, PUSH & SHOCK.
"It is critical that you call Triple Zero (000), begin CPR by performing chest compressions and use an AED, if one is available, while ambulance crews are on the way," Minister Barnett said.
"A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating and can often lead to death. A person in cardiac arrest will collapse and stop breathing normally, and after 10 minutes without intervention, the damage is frequently irreversible.
"Every year thousands of Australians suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and 9 in 10 people won't survive, so immediate action could make the difference between life and death.
"AEDs can be located by Emergency Call Takers as well as through the GoodSAM app which was launched in July 2024.
"When a cardiac arrest emergency call is made to Triple Zero GoodSAM alerts nearby responders, providing the location of the patient, as well as the closest publicly accessible AED.
"As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future, we will deliver another 180 defibrillators to help save lives, right around the State."
