QUEANBEYAN began its defibrillator roll out this week with the first Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) unit, costing around $3000, deployed at the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre.
Aquatic Centre staff trained with the new piece of equipment on Tuesday, with the aim of significantly increasing the chance of survival for those who slip into cardiac arrest.
Queanbeyan City Council identified the Aquatic Centre in October as the highest priority location for the life saving technology with a view to install several other units across town in areas like The Q, the Customer Service Centre and the Conference Centre.
Australian Defibrillators spokesperson Paul Jones said the current survival rate outside of hospital for sudden cardiac arrest is less than five per cent and the devices would be used in the crucial 10 minute window before help arrived.
``The most successful treatment for cardiac arrest is defibrillation within the first three-five minutes of the event which can increase the chances of survival from less than five per cent to above 70 per cent,'' he said.
``Unfortunately CPR alone is not enough, however combined with early defibrillation it can dramatically increase the victim's chances of survival.''
Mr Jones said the AED's, which are also used by the NSW Ambulance and Fire Brigade, have cardiac pulmory resuscitation (CPR) sensors in the pads and tells the Leg 1rescuer what to do. ``We use the AED for public access defibrillation because it's the world's first and only full rescue AED,'' he said.
The AED diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia and treats the person through defibrillation. Rather than starting the heart, the defibrillator actually stops the arrhythmia in the heart and allows the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.
Mr Jones said the portable device saved a life this year when a boy at a Botany Bay swimming carnival went into sudden cardiac arrest. He said once people were trained in the operation of the new defibrillators it was all about making the town heart safe. ``We get defibrillators across the town, every shopping centre, all the clubs, and we train them all up on how to use them so the whole town becomes heart safe.''
While the defibrillators are simple to operate, he said only those who had been trained would use them rather than the general public.
Queanbeyan City Council mayor Tim Overall, who is familiar with defibrillator technology from his days in the NSW Ambulance Service, said deploying the devices was an important initiative for Queanbeyan.
``The response time to resuscitate either through mouth-to-mouth and or defibrillator is critical. The critical time period is within a period of four minutes, that's when you are likely to get a more positive response. Beyond that time it gets more difficult and more complex.'' ``This is an important and potentially life saving initiative. I'm very familiar with the importance of having defibrillators in places where they may well need to be used in emergencies having been previously chief executive of the NSW Ambulance Service,'' he said.
``The response time to resuscitate either through mouth-to-mouth and or defibrillator is critical. The critical time period is within a period of four minutes, that's when you are likely to get a more positive response. Beyond that time it gets more difficult and more complex.
``For the staff of the pool to have immediate access to this equipment is potentially life saving in case of an emergency.''
Council manager customer services and communications Paul Spyve said the Aquatic Centre, in terms of being a priority, was seen as ideal. With regard to other defibrillators being deployed around town, he said another meeting would take place before deciding on further priorities.
``For the staff of the pool to have immediate access to this equipment is potentially life saving in case of an emergency.''