Published on Monday, 31 August 2015 at 12:00:00 AM
Claire Dadd, President of the Goomalling St John Ambulance Sub Centre, presented the new AED during the August Council Meeting, and was pleased to note the Councillors' interest in the workings and importance of the device.
The AED, which will be located at the Shire office, has been registered as part of the St John Ambulance Community First Responder program. This program creates a direct link betweeen the St John Ambulance '000' call centre and local communities and organisations. The direct link enables individuals to provide immediate assistance to cardiac arrest victims in the time-critical period before an ambulance arrives - when it matters most.
It is known that anyone can suffer sudden cardiac arrest - regardless of age, gender or health status. Approximately 33,000 Australians die from this condition every year. The single key factor to improving survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest victims is the time taken to administer early CPR and defibrillation. Studies have shown dramatic improvements in survival rates where CPR and defibrillation are administered within five minutes of an event.
The Community First Responder procedure works as follows:
1. A person suffers sudden cardiac arrest.
2. Bystanders call 000.
3. An ambulance is dispatched.
4. The First Responder is called by the 000 call centre and sent to assist.
5. The First Responder carries out CPR and applies the AED if necessary.
6. The ambulance arrives and officers take over care of the patient.
Towns throughout Western Australia have wholeheartedly adopted the introduction of locally-based AEDs, with Goomalling being one of the leaders in the number of AEDs in the community.
In addition to the Shire location, AEDs can be found at the Caravan Park, the football pavilion, the tennis club, golf club and Farmer's Club. An AED is also situated at the local supermarket. Future plans include installing a 24 hour access AED in the centre of town.
In order that First Responders and other community members are familiar with AEDs and the skills required for CPR, first aid classes are offered regularly by the Goomalling sub centre. Mrs Dadd will be giving a demonstration on how to use an AED to Councillors and Shire staff on 16 September.
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