It’s Shocktober and Trentham has joined the Heart Safe Communities program to upskill residents in how to save the life of someone having a cardiac arrest.
Shocktober is a month-long campaign aimed at improving the cardiac arrest survival rate – Ambulance Victoria (AV) Grampians operations community engagement liaison coordinator Mel Buckingham said the Trentham initiative will be important for building community resilience.
“The expansion of the Heart Safe Community state-wide program, a joint initiative between AV and the Heart Foundation, will build the confidence and skills in local communities to step in and provide life saving assistance if someone is in cardiac arrest,” Ms Buckingham said.
“Cardiac arrest happens when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating and stops pumping blood effectively around the body; it can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.
“While bystanders alone will never replace an ambulance service, equipping people with skills to start the chain of survival does save lives.”
As part of Shocktober, Victoria’s 12 Heart Safe Communities are running Call, Push, Shock information sessions. Residents can learn how to save a life at the Trentham Farmers’ Market on October 15 from 9am to 1pm, 27 High Street, Trentham.
Details: www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/community/community-partnerships/heart-safe-communities/.
