Ambulance Victoria Loddon Mallee regional director Amelia Kohn said paramedics wanted to improve cardiac arrest survival rates after research revealed a 50 per cent drop in survival during the first three months of COVID-19 restrictions.
“We’ve dubbed October Shocktober, and we’re offering all Victorians a chance to learn basic CPR and how to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED),” Ms Kohn said.
“Registration is easy, free and it’s something you can do with the family in the living room.
“Email your name and suburb to community.engagement@ambulance.vic.gov.au and we’ll get back to you with the details of your online CPR event hosted by paramedics in your area.”
The sessions will be held from 7pm on Thursday, October 15.
Ms Kohn said the more Victorians knew CPR, how to use an AED and where they were located in the community, the more lives would be saved.
“Every day, the hearts of around 18 Victorians will stop beating due to cardiac arrest, and only one in 10 of those people will survive,” she said.
“The sooner someone receives CPR and defibrillation, the better their chances of survival.
“The chain of survival is simple - Call, Push, Shock. Call 000, push hard and fast on the middle of the chest, and shock using an AED.”
Ms Kohn said it was critical all AEDs were registered through Ambulance Victoria and publicly accessible.
“When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, the 000 call taker can direct people to the nearest AED if it is registered,” she said.
“Cardiac arrests don’t just occur during business hours so we are encouraging all schools, businesses and sporting clubs to make their AEDs accessible to the community 24/7.”
Echuca-Moama has 21 AEDs, which can be found by visiting the website at registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au
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