7000 defibrillators now available across WA thanks to St John WA Community First Responder network

• Life-saving Automated External Defibrillators registered in 7000 businesses, sporting clubs and community groups across the state.
• Latest St John WA AED donated to Alkimos restaurant Oceans 27.
• St John WA registered 1000 AEDs to Community First Responder Network in past 12 months.

St John WA has delivered its 7000^th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the Western Australian community with the addition of the life saving device to an Alkimos beachfront restaurant.

Oceans 27 registered its AED on the St John Community First Responder Network this month, making it among 1000 defibrillators registered so far this year at local businesses, community organisations and sporting clubs across the state.

Increasing community access to defibrillators can literally mean the difference between life and death, with survival rates for people suffering cardiac arrest increasing significantly if first responders have access to an AED.

Established in 2011, the St John WA Community First Responder program is a free service that aims to get defibrillators to cardiac arrest victims in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives. Locations of all registered AEDs are listed on the St John First Responder app. 

Studies show nine out of 10 people won’t survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The First Responder program aims to improve this statistic by increasing access to AEDs in the community, with survival rates improving by 70 per cent when a defib is applied within three minutes.

St John WA Executive Director Aaron Crowther said it was testament to the strength of the WA community that so many organisations and businesses were prepared to have an AED located at their premises, ensuring easy access in case of emergencies.

“Providing our community with greater access to defibrillators is a key goal and one that’s close to our hearts at St John,” Mr Crowther said.

“Reaching the 7000^th defibrillator is an incredible milestone and it’s magnified knowing that through the Community First Responder program we have made the community stronger. The more organisations that register – the more lives we’ll save.”

Oceans 27 owner, George Bartell, said it was a natural step to register an AED at the restaurant. “Being so close to the beach, which is a drawcard for so many people particularly in the summer, we considered it important that we were equipped to deal with a cardiac emergency should it ever happen,” he said.

“We are honoured to be the 7000^th location for a registered AED. It’s a great feeling to know we can lend a helping hand to the community should we need to in an emergency.”To register a new or existing defibrillator with the Community First Responder network, businesses can upload the location through St John WA’s First Responder mobile application, or head to the St John WA website – https://stjohnwa.com.au/ambulance-and-health-services/community-first-responder