Heart Safe Communities teaches community members how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This program is a partnership between Ambulance Victoria (AV) and the Heart Foundation.
The goals of the program
- Raise awareness about cardiac arrest.
- Teach people how to call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.
- Show people how to do CPR and use an AED.
- Find and register existing AEDs.
- Install and register new AEDs.
- Promote the use of helpful apps like GoodSAM.
Choosing locations
Heart Safe Communities are chosen based on:
- How often ambulances are needed.
- Number of cardiac arrests.
- Rates of bystander CPR.
- Number of AEDs available to the public.
- Population and community readiness.
Heart Safe Communities map
Heart Safe Communities across Victoria
We have an ever-growing number of official Heart Safe Communities across the Victorian regions.
Success stories
In 2018, Tatura became the first Heart Safe Community. On Christmas Day, a local paramedic and a bystander saved a man’s life using CPR learned from the program.
Evaluation
Melbourne University found that the program increased community knowledge and confidence in handling cardiac arrests. More lives have been saved because of this initiative.
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