This month in collaboration with the Heart Foundation, Ambulance Victoria is running ‘Shocktober’ to raise awareness and improve outcomes for individuals who have a cardiac arrest in the community.
Every day around 19 Victorians will have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with only 1 in 10 surviving. For these individuals, bystander intervention can double their chance of survival. Using an Automated External Defibrillators (AED) increases survival even further.
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time, regardless of age, health or fitness level, with or without any symptoms. It is important to know the signs of a cardiac arrest and what to do.
Thousands of Victorians are still with us today because a brave bystander stepped in and took lifesaving action. If someone is unconscious or not breathing normally, know the three steps to save a life:
- Call Triple Zero (000) and listen to their instructions
- Push hard and fast on their chest
- Shock with an AED and follow the instructions
How can I help?
Sign up to GoodSAM
This month, Ambulance Victoria is encouraging anyone who knows hands-only CPR to learn more and sign up today. To date, the app has already saved 60 lives!
The GoodSAM Responder app saves lives by letting you know that someone nearby needs hands-only CPR in the first critical minutes after cardiac arrest. Integrated with the Ambulance Victoria dispatch process, the GoodSAM App allows you to help keep a person alive while an ambulance is on its way.
Come speak to Ambulance Victoria at Monash Medical Centre Clayton
If you are at Monash Medical Centre, come speak to Ambulance Victoria Paramedics on Monday 24 October, 8am to 4pm in the Foyer of the hospital’s main visitor entrance.
The team will:
- Discuss AED and the GoodSAM App
- Encourage new GoodSAM sign ups
- CPR demonstration and discussion
- Run Call, Push, Shock sessions
- Provide information packs to members of the public
Learn more about cardiac arrest and CPR
Download and read the FAQs on cardiac arrest, CPR and AEDS here, and be sure to share this information with your colleagues, family members and friends.
Need a quick reference guide? Download and print the Call, push, shock poster to display on your fridge or share with your loved ones too.
For family members or friends, who don’t know CPR or how to use an AED, encourage them to learn more by watching a short instructional video (5:00) by Ambulance Victoria here.
For more information about Shocktober, cardiac arrest and performing CPR in the community visit the Ambulance Victoria website.
Approved by Rachel Rosler.