The Mt Egerton community has received a major health boost, with a new heart-starting device installed in town which is accessible 24/7 for the community.
The new automated external defibrillator (AED) is located at Mount Egerton Mechanics Hall, 69 Main St, Mount Egerton.
ACO Brodie with the new registered AED.
AEDs are used during a cardiac arrest to shock the patient's heart back into normal function.
Clunes Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) Brodie Ogluszko said it was an important achievement for the local community to have its first registered AED.
"Mt Egerton previously didn't have any registered AEDS, so now having one that is also accessible 24/7 means that the community is better prepared in the event of an emergency," Brodie said.
"It's important to have a registered AED available for health emergencies, so the Triple Zero (000) call-taker can advise bystanders where an AED is and encourage them to use it while an ambulance is on the way."
Minutes matter in cardiac arrests, and when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.
Locals attending the presentation.
ACO Brodie spent months researching and discussing with local community groups and agencies on how to obtain an AED, with the new AED made possible through a donation via the Edward's Foundation.
The AED was installed last weekend, alongside a presentation about how to perform CPR and use an AED, and was attended by local community members, the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and Moorabool Shire Council Mayor Ally Munari and Councillor Tom Sullivan.
"A lot of the people I spoke to said they didn't know how to do CPR or use an AED, but after the lesson they felt confident they would be able to help in an emergency," Brodie said.
"We also talked about the life-saving GoodSAM app, which many people didn't know about."
ACO Brodie teaching locals how to perform CPR.
The GoodSAM app is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
"Anyone who knows hands-only CPR can save a life by becoming a GoodSAM Responder today," Brodie said.
"You don't have to be first aid qualified or have a medical background, you just need to be willing and able to do hands-only CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone."
Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) are first responders employed on a casual basis to provide advanced first aid in remote communities where the caseload is low, and the branch is not staffed full-time.
ACOs have life-saving skills that they develop and maintain every year.
Registered AEDs in Mt Egerton and across Victoria can be found here.
