A BEACHFRONT restaurant in Alkimos is one of the most recent locations with an automated external defibrillator in case there is a cardiac emergency in the area.
The automated external defibrillator was installed as part of the St John WA community first responder program, which aims to get defibrillators to cardiac arrest victims in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrives.
St John WA said Oceans 27 registered its automated external defibrillator on the St John community first responder network this month, making it among the 1000 defibrillators registered so far this year at local businesses, community organisations and sporting clubs across the state.
The automated external defibrillator located at Oceans 27 was also the 7000th life saving device delivered to the Western Australian community.
Oceans 27 owner George Bartell said it was a natural step to register an automated external defibrillator at the restaurant.
“Being so close to the beach, which is a drawcard for so many people particularly in the summer, we considered it important that we were equipped to deal with a cardiac emergency should it ever happen,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling to know we can lend a helping hand to the community should we need to in an emergency.”
On its community first responder page St John WA says contrary to popular belief, sudden cardiac arrest can strike any person regardless of age, gender or health status and about 33,000 Australians die every year from the condition.
“The single key contributing factor to improving survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest is the time taken to administer early CPR and defibrillation,’’ St John WA said.
“Where CPR and defibrillation are administered within five minutes of an event, studies have shown dramatic improvements in survival rates.’’
St John WA executive director Aaron Crowther said it was testament to the strength of the WA community that so many organisations and businesses were prepared to have an automated external defibrillator at their premises.
“Providing our community with greater access to defibrillators is a key goal and one that’s close to our hearts at St John,” he said.
“Reaching the 7000th defibrillator is an incredible milestone and it’s magnified knowing that through the community first responder program we have made the community stronger.
The more organisations that register – the more lives we’ll save.”
Locations of all registered automated external defibrillators are listed on the website and the St John First Responder app.
Established in 2011 the St John WA community first responder program is a free service but there is an initial charge for the automated external defibrillator.
The Yanchep Community Men’s Shed has a defibrillator which was mostly funded by the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia.
