Cohuna welcomes new heart starter

December 13, 2023 | in Community News

The Cohuna community now has a greater chance of surviving cardiac arrests thanks to a brand new 24-hour publicly accessible automated external defibrillator (AED).

The heart-starting device has been installed at the Gannawarra Shire Council’s Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre (90 King George St, Cohuna).

L-R: Gannawarra Shire Council’s Scott Wishart, AV Cohuna Team Manager Libby Fox and Cohuna Ambulance Community Officer Craig Harbinson with the new AED.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) Cohuna Team Manager Libby Fox said the AED will make a real difference to the community.

“AEDs are used to attempt to shock the heart back into rhythm following a cardiac arrest,” she said.

“Cardiac arrest happens when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating and it can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

“Minutes matter in a cardiac arrest and the sooner a person receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation from an AED, the better their chances of survival.”

About 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day and only one in 10 survive.

Gannawarra Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Geoff Rollinson said the new AED will benefit both residents and visitors in the region.

“Council thanks Ambulance Victoria for providing an AED via its gifting program,” Mr Rollinson said.

“Having an AED at the Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre will benefit anyone who needs this potentially lifesaving assistance within Cohuna’s central business district, at Garden Park, Apex Park or at the Gateway itself.”

The new AED on the wall of the Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre.

Sessions teaching locals how to use an AED will be held at the Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Centre over summer.

However Ms Fox said anyone can use an AED, regardless of whether they had received training to do so.

“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” she said.

“They are safe and easy to use and will not deliver a shock unless it is necessary.

“Bystander intervention makes a big difference – when a cardiac arrest patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.”

Ms Fox urged the community to make sure all AEDs are registered on AV’s website, so Triple Zero (000) call-takers can direct people to them in a medical emergency.

Registered AEDs in Cohuna and in other communities across Victoria can be located at registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au.

For more information on upcoming AED training sessions, contact gateway@gannawarra.vic.gov.au or nhcohuna@bigpond.com.