Two Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) have joined forces with a local business to give Torquay locals and visitors a better chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.
Café owners Tanya and Brendan Bennet, and Ambulance Victoria (AV) First Responders Roger Abel and David Nankervis have funded a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which is now installed outside popular cafe, Doc Hughes.
(L-R) Ambulance Victoria ACO David Nankervis, Tanya Bennet and ACO Roger Abel.
AEDs are devices used to shock the heart back into rhythm following a cardiac arrest.
Mr Nankervis said there was a need for more publicly accessible AEDs in Torquay after two sad incidents in recent months.
"We know that AEDs can make a significant difference for surviving a cardiac arrest and by having one in this central location, we believe this will help save lives," Mr Nankervis said.
"We are very grateful that Tanya and Brendan were willing to support this, both in terms of funding and allowing it to be installed outside their café."
The new AED is located on the café's veranda, allowing it to be accessed 24 hours a day.
There are currently 35 AEDs registered in Torquay, however only four are publicly accessible at all hours.
Barwon South West Operational Community Engagement Liaison Coordinator Sara Hadden said having AEDs registered with Ambulance Victoria, and accessible 24/7 was hugely important for the community.
"Having an AED registered with AV allows our Triple Zero Victoria (000) call-takers to direct bystanders to the life-saving device in an emergency," Ms Hadden said.
"Even better is when the AED can be accessed at all hours, because as we know, cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any age, at any time."
Ms Hadden said the new AED was an incredibly generous gift for the region.
"AV would like to thank the owners of Doc Hughes and of course our ACOs David and Roger for this life-saving addition," she said.
Along with their AV work, both ACOs also run private first aid training companies, BLS Training Services Australia and Roger Abel Training Services.
"As both educators in the field, and ACO's, we are acutely aware of the benefits of early intervention when it comes to critical care, and we saw a vital need for this new resource," Mr Nankervis said.
"The location directly opposite the main beach is ideal and we hope this is the first of many AEDs we can help facilitate in and around the Surf Coast."
Every day, around 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive.
When a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.
Mr Nankervis and Mr Abel are planning to run training sessions over the coming months, where locals can learn CPR and how to use the AED.
Learn how to register an AED or to find out where they are located.
