Life saving defib for Garfield

A life saving defibrillator, easily accessible to the public, has been installed at Garfield.

And units are also on the way for Bunyip, Tynong and Tonimbuk.

Ambulance Victoria team manager Mick Carroll said defibrillators are vitally important in the “chain of survival” to save the lives of people in sudden cardiac arrest.

Bunyip fire brigade Lieutenant Simon Sharpe initiated the idea to have around the clock publicly accessible units available in the brigade’s response area.

District businesses, service clubs, community organisations, opportunity shops and individuals got right behind it.

They raised about $14,000 for the four units and protective cabinets.

The Garfield defibrillator has been installed in front of the post office.

The unit for Bunyip is not far away and will be at the Bunyip and District Community Bank building while locations are still being finalised for Tynong and Tonimbuk.

A good attendance of Garfield people turned out at the Garfield bowling club to be trained by Ambulance Victoria officers in the use of the defibrillators and other resuscitation techniques.

A similar training session has been organised for Bunyip on October 18.

Mr Carroll said there were six steps in the “Chain of Survival” - early recognition of cardiac arrest, a call to 000, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation, advanced care by paramedics and hospital care.

“Early CPR and defibrillation were key links in the chain”.

The more people that know where the automated external defibrillators are located and how to use them the more lives that can be saved. he said.

Mr Carroll said a cardiac arrest patient had a much greater chance of survival if they are defibrillated.

It’s never too early to learn how to save lives and Kohen Lott-Stephens, the youngest community member at a Garfield training session on the use of a defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, gave his full attention to practising the techniques.