MEMBERS of the Cohuna community now have a greater chance of surviving a cardiac arrest thanks to a new 24-hour publicly accessible automated external defibrillator.
The heart-starting device has been installed at Gannawarra Shire Council’s Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre.
Ambulance Victoria Cohuna team manager Libby Fox said the defibrillator will make a real difference to the community.
“AEDs are used to attempt to shock the heart back into rhythm following a cardiac arrest,” she said.
“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
“Minutes matter in a cardiac arrest, and the sooner a person receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation the better their chances of survival.”
About 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day, and only one in 10 survive.
Gannawarra Shire Council chief executive Geoff Rollinson said the new defibrillator will benefit both residents and visitors in the region.
“Having an AED at the Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre will benefit anyone who needs this potentially lifesaving assistance within Cohuna’s central business district, at Garden Park, Apex Park or at the Gateway itself,” he said.
Sessions teaching locals how to use a defibrillator will be held at the centre over summer.
However, Ms Fox said anyone can use one, regardless of whether they had received training to do so.
“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” she said.
“They are safe and easy to use.
“Bystander intervention makes a big difference – when a cardiac arrest patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.”
Ms Fox urged the community to make sure all defibrillators are registered on AV’s website, so Triple Zero (000) call-takers can direct people to them in a medical emergency.
Registered defibrillators in Cohuna and in other communities across Victoria can be located at registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au
