St John’s call to make AEDs as commonplace as fire extinguishers to save lives

Ahead of Restart a Heart Day on October 16, St John Ambulance Australia is calling for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to become as common place as fire extinguishers in communities, workplaces and homes.

New research released by St John shows almost all Australian adults – (96%) – believe AEDs are important to have in public locations.

St John continues to actively advocate with governments, workplaces and communities, to improve public access defibrillators, but there is still a long way to go.

A sudden cardiac arrest can impact people of all ages, genders and lifestyles – occurring when the heart suddenly stops pumping and the body is starved of oxygen.

Every year in Australia, about 26,000 people have a sudden Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA).

Only about ten per cent of these people will survive.

St John Ambulance Australia CEO Brendan Maher said bystander action in the early minutes following a cardiac arrest was vital to survival.

“Good quality CPR, coupled with use of a defibrillator, increases the survival rates to as high as seventy per cent,” he said.

“These are actions almost anyone can undertake with First Aid training, and better access to AEDs.

“OHCAs occur in locations such as homes, workplaces, sporting venues, and out and about in the community. It can happen anywhere, to anyone. This means that the first on scene are likely to be family, friends, colleagues or strangers.

“We need to work together to protect each other and save lives.”

Interestingly, the survey also found while 82% of Australian adults thought AEDs were important devices to have in homes, only one per cent had purchased one for their own residence.

St John WA’s Shocktober sale includes 20 per cent off the G5 Defibrillator.