With more cardiac arrests in Victoria than ever before, Ambulance Victoria (AV) is encouraging Bolinda and Monegeetta residents to learn or refresh their cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and sign up to be a GoodSAM responder.
AV Loddon Mallee regional director Matt McCrohan encouraged locals to learn CPR, how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) and know where their closest defibrillator is located.
“Shocktober is about giving Victorians who have a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” he said.
“CPR and defibrillation are critical. Every day, around 21 Victorians suffer the medical emergency but only one in 10 survive. 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.
“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to Call (Triple 000), Push (Perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED).”
Mr McCrohan also encouraged locals 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.
AV will run Call, Push, Shock sessions in Bolinda/Monegeetta during Shocktober and locals are encouraged to attend the Bolinda-Monegeetta CFA Bonfire Night from 5pm, Saturday October 18 to take part.
