Ambulance Victoria is urging Victorians to learn these potentially life-saving skills through its annual Shocktober campaign.
Held throughout October, the campaign aims to raise awareness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators.
Ambulance Victoria acting Moira senior team manager Brendan McCarthy said 21 Victorians suffered a cardiac arrest every day, with only two likely to survive.
“The metrics and the data shows that 152 cardiac arrest patients last year received a shock from public AED before paramedics arrived,” he said.
“When a patient gets effective CPR and they get an early shock from an AED before the paramedics arrive, it significantly increases the chance of survival.”
Mr McCarthy said community involvement was vital when responding to a cardiac arrest.
“It’s extraordinary numbers and we’re trying to stress the importance of community involvement and that these minutes matter,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria is encouraging Victorians to remember three simple steps that could help save a life: call, push and shock.
“Call 000, push hard and fast in the middle of the chest to give CPR and shock using an AED,” Mr McCarthy said.
More than 160 Shocktober events will be held this month, with Ambulance Victoria estimating up to 5000 Victorians will learn these potentially life-saving skills.
The campaign is also encouraging Victorians to become GoodSAM responders ― the GoodSAM Responder app alerts nearby trained volunteers and emergency service personnel to cardiac arrest emergencies, allowing them to begin CPR while paramedics are on their way.
Mr McCarthy said equipping communities with the right skills and resources was essential to achieving better outcomes for cardiac arrest patients.
To see what Shocktober events are on, visit: tinyurl.com/mr27fpm8
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