The brain normally sends electrical signals to the heart in order for it to pump blood through the body and keep our organs running. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when there is a disruption to that electrical current causing an irregular heartbeat. With this disruption, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body or its vital organs. The victim will lose consciousness and needs immediate help. The only way to help the victim is by using the defibrillator. To learn more visit our website!
No-one wants to be faced with the unthinkable, a loved one or colleague, even a stranger dropping to the ground and ceasing to breathe. Would you be prepared if it happened to you? Could you, as a bystander, act quickly to administer CPR and help save a life?
What is bystander CPR?
Bystander CPR, is exactly how it sounds, CPR performed by someone who has witnessed a medical emergency such as a sudden cardiac arrest. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a basic first aid technique used to help save the life of someone who’s heart has stopped or has stopped breathing. CPR is performed by opening a person’s airway and performing chest compressions to push oxygen into the lungs, so that oxygenated blood can get to the brain and keep the person alive. Compression only is a newer way to perform CPR. It’s easier than the traditional method, and it save lives.
Why is bystander CPR important?
The Australian Resuscitation Council answer to this is clear: Any attempt at resuscitation is better than none. Over 33,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests occur in Australia each year. Less than 12% survive. Chest compression from an onlooker can keep a person experiencing cardiac arrest alive until the paramedics arrive. It more than doubles the survival rate. Combine it with early use of an AED (automated external defibrillator) and the statistics improve even further.
Can I get in trouble?
The short answer is no, most states in Australia have some form of the Good Samaritan Law in place that protects any first responder, whether they are a medical professional or not from repercussions when attempting to help save someone’s life. There is no good reason not to learn how to do CPR. You don’t need to be a health professional to gain expertise in this highly effective medical intervention, which is quick to both learn and execute.
Join the Ambulance Victoria ‘Good Sam’ register.
Ambulance Victoria is maintaining a register of defibrillators so their ‘Good Sam’ responders can access this life-saving device faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Every minute that CPR and defibrillation are delayed reduces the person’s chance of survival by 10%. A fast response can make the difference between life and death.
AED Authority encourages every organisation with a defibrillator to register with Ambulance Victoria – just go to their website https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/community/community-partnerships/register-my-aed/
The most compelling reason as to why anyone needs to have a defibrillator on hand is that after the first 10 minutes of having a cardiac arrest your survival rates can drop to be less than 10% . The survival rate can drop between 7% to 10% for every minute the patient has to wait for defibrillation.
Our ambulance service and paramedics do a magnificent job with the resources they have available to them, but it doesn’t guarantee that they will get to a patient within that 10 minute window.
The latest Ambulance Victoria Report on ambulance response times (1st Jan 2016-31st Mar 2016) shows that the state wide average response time for a code one incident (Sudden Cardiac Arrest included) reported that 75.6% of the time, the ambulance arrived less than or equal to 15 mins. The state average response time was 13:01 with the best average time being Melbourne with 9:51, the worst areas being some rural locations where response times are greater than 20 mins. A quick check shows that these numbers are pretty similar for other states and territories in Australia.
Bearing in mind that early defibrillation and the first 10 mins is key to improving survival rates these numbers show is that survival rates from cardiac arrest can be dramatically improved if people, businesses, sporting clubs and organisations of all types have a defibrillator available to them, then more lives will be saved from cardiac arrest.
We owe it to our family , workmates and fellow person to be equipped and ready with a defibrillator in the event of an emergency.
