Ambulance Victoria (AV) has launched its life-saving annual campaign Shocktober, teaching three simple steps to improve cardiac arrest survival relates—Call, Push, Shock.
The month-long cardiac arrest awareness campaign highlights the importance of learning CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Around 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day and only one in 10 survive. Bystander intervention significantly enhances a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest, and for every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.
But AV Acting Regional Director Hume Peter Jenkins said that saving a life did not require paramedic training.
“Every minute matters in a cardiac arrest and when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles,” he said.
“Anyone can perform CPR and use an AED—you don’t need training or to be qualified. If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions.
“I encourage everyone to sign up as a GoodSAM responder—it’s a smartphone app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.”
To further drive awareness, AV will be hosting community engagement sessions across the region during the month.
Pacific Epping, in partnership with Northern Health and AV, will host a Restart a Heart Day event, providing the public with hands on-training in CPR and AED use in a non-emergency setting to develop life-saving skills.
The event will be hosted at Pacific Epping’s Big W Dome, from 9.30am–5.30pm on October 16.
Businesses, shop owners, and sports clubs are encouraged to ensure their AEDs are registered with the AV website and made publicly accessible via www.registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au.
For more information about Shocktober, the GoodSAM app, and how to perform CPR and use an AED, visit www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober.
