It’s estimated that more than 400 000 Australians have had a heart attack at some time in their lives. Each year around 54 000 Australians suffer a heart attack—that’s one every 10 minutes.
At any time, someone might suffer a heart attack in one of Central Highlands Regional Council’s offices; it could be a visitor or an employee.
Now, someone’s chance of surviving a heart attack at council is greatly improved following the installation of five automated external defibrillators (AED) throughout the region.
Chief Executive Officer Scott Mason said the AED project is a direct result of a safety initiative introduced under an enforceable undertaking (EU) that council entered into this year following an alleged contravention of the Work Health and Safety Act.
‘When someone has a serious cardiac arrest in the vicinity of one of our offices, anyone can grab an AED and, following visual and audio prompts, will place electrodes on the patient’s chest. The AED analyses the heart rhythm, but will only shock if ventricular fibrillation, very rapid erratic beating of the heart, is detected.
‘The chance of survival is more than 75 percent if an AED is used,’ he said.
The AEDs have been installed at Duaringa, Blackwater, Emerald, Springsure, Capella and Rolleston council offices.