Town of Victoria Park small businesses upbeat about saving lives one heart at a time

• Early CPR and defibrillation before ambulance arrives improves the likelihood of cardiac arrest survival threefold.
• Cardiac arrest does not discriminate about age, fitness and socio-economic background – currently only 1 in 10 people survive.
• SJWA’s unique Community First Responder Program aims to shift the dial on survival rates by getting more community AEDs and first aid-qualified responders to victims.

Stepping forward and becoming leaders in responding to sudden cardiac arrest to save lives was the key message small businesses in Victoria Park took away on Wednesday night.

Ahead of Restart a Heart Day (October 16) and Shocktober, St John WA Resuscitation Improvement Specialist Jason Belcher spoke on the importance of Community First Responders and community defibrillators (AEDs) in shifting the dial on 1 in 10 survivors.

At a local small business event hosted by the Town of Victoria Park, Jason presented on SJWA’s unique First Responder app where first aid-qualified responders can register their details to assist in a nearby emergency before an ambulance arrives.

The minute Triple Zero (000) gets dialled in a suspected cardiac arrest, SJWA call-takers prioritise an ambulance to the scene while also talking through CPR and finding the nearest community AED, and potentially alerting a Community First Responder through the app.

The difference of getting early CPR and AED shock to patients before an ambulance arrives improves the likelihood of survival threefold.

On October 16, the message Call. Push. Shock gets highlighted for national Restart a Heart Day as ambulance services around Australia continue to educate on the importance of community response in saving cardiac arrest victims.

Sadly some victims are children as cardiac arrest does not discriminate about age, fitness and socio-economic background.

The Community First Responder Program is part of SJWA’s commitment to building a strong and resilient Western Australia, supported by community.

To find out more visit: https://stjohnwa.com.au/ambulance-and-health-services/community-first-responder Download the First Responder App:https://stjohnwa.com.au/online-resources/st-john-first-responder-app