With more cardiac arrests in Victoria than ever before, Ambulance Victoria is urging the public, including those from Hume and Whittlesea, to learn or refresh their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and sign up to be a GoodSAM Responder.
A cardiac arrest occurs when a person’s heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively around the body.
Last year, paramedics responded to 7,361 cardiac arrest patients – an increase of six per cent from the previous year – and nearly 80 per cent occurred at home.
Victoria has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia, and among the best in the world.
Every day, around 20 Victorians suffer the medical emergency but only one in 10 survive.
October marks the fourth year of the nationally recognised Shocktober campaign aimed at improving cardiac arrest survival rates.
Ambulance Victoria Medical Director Associate Professor David Anderson said it is essential to know CPR, how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and where your closest defibrillator is located.
“Shocktober is about giving more Victorians who suffer a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” he said.
“CPR and defibrillation are critical. For every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.
“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level, and often without symptoms.”
Eight-year-old Lucy is alive today thanks to the quick-thinking actions of her mother Sarah, who started CPR when Lucy had a cardiac arrest in August.
Lucy has since made a full recovery and will reunite with paramedics today to mark the launch of the month-long initiative.
Associate Professor David Anderson said anyone can make a difference.
“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to Call (Triple Zero 000), Push (Perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED),” he said.
Associate Professor Anderson also encouraged the community to sign up to be a GoodSAM Responder.
GoodSAM is a mobile app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to start hands-only CPR while paramedics are on their way.
More than 55 lives have been saved thanks to GoodSAM Responders. There are currently about 12,000 GoodSAM Responders across the state, but we need more.
More information about Shocktober, the GoodSAM app and how to learn CPR and use an AED (defib), is available online.
Details: ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober
