WITH around 30,000 Australians and New Zealanders suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, Restart a Heart Day aims to encourage people to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to provide lifesaving assistance in an emergency.

Taking place tomorrow, Restart a Heart Day is an annual campaign held in October that runs in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria’s Shocktober campaign, that aims to educate the public about heart health, AED awareness, and wellness.

Southern Grampians and Barwon South West Region paramedic community support coordinator, Jim Falla, said it was a strong message to push locally, as everyone in the south-west should know the three simple lifesaving steps - Call, Push, Shock.

“What we’re pushing is bystander CPR and bystander AED use and the message that anyone can use one,” he said.

“You don’t need first aid training and you don’t need a medical background.”

Every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest, not receiving CPR or AED shock, chances of survival drop by 10 per cent, with irreversible damage occurring after 10 minutes without intervention.

As many locals live in remote areas, Mr Falla said it was essential to educate everyone about the importance of knowing where their nearest AED is located and how to use it. 

“If there is somebody from the community doing compressions the chances of (the patient) surviving are increased dramatically, and if an AED is used the chances increase exponentially again,” he said.

“To use the AED you want to apply the pads to the patient’s bare skin if they are not responding or breathing normally, and the monitor will talk to you and tell you what to do.

“You want to place the AED near the head of the patient, and you keep going with CPR until we get there.

“We’re always very grateful to community members who try to assist with compressions.

“That’s what’s going to keep them alive.”

Anyone interested in knowing where their nearest AED is located can check the registered AED map at registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au

Local clubs, organisations, or businesses interested in receiving a talk from Ambulance Victoria can contact Mr Falla by emailing southerngrampians.pcsc@ambulance.vic.gov.au