Restart a heart
Restart a Heart Day 16 October 2018
Only 1 in 10 survive a cardiac arrest, despite all the training, increased awareness, and an increased number of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in accessible locations all over Australia.
Restart a Heart Day on 16 October 2018 aims to beat that by increasing the number of people across Australia knowing how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an AED.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly and suddenly ceases beating. The usual cause is an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, which most commonly results from abnormal and very fast electrical activity in the heart. The only effective treatment is defibrillation, delivered by an AED.
Defibrillation is an electrical shock sent via an electrical current applied to the chest. The electrical current passes through the chest, attempting to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. The sooner an AED can be applied to a sudden cardiac arrest victim, the greater their chance of survival.
Three steps are all that is required to restart a heart:
1. Call 000 and get the ambulance on its way
2. Start CPR while you are waiting for an AED to be located and for the ambulance to arrive
3. If an AED arrives, switch it on and follow the instructions
The steps to using an AED are simple – the visual and audio prompts from the defibrillator guide the user through the entire resuscitation process. The machine assesses the victim’s heart rhythm, and will only defibrillate a shockable rhythm. For example, there is another abnormal rhythm called pulseless electrical activity, which an AED would assess as not requiring shock. In this case, the only effective treatment is good quality CPR.
Fortunately, AEDs are becoming more common, especially in public places. Look for them in the foyer of community centres, near the evacuation plan in business premises, in the office or staff room at schools, behind the bar or in function rooms at sports clubs, on the wall in your gym, in the foyer of libraries, and centrally located near toilet aisles, cinemas or information desks in shopping centres and airports.
Allens Training includes defibrillators in our range of products for sale – visit our first aid online shop for details, and call one of our friendly staff for assistance with your purchase.
It is important to know how to do CPR properly and how to use an AED. Allens Training Sunshine Coast regularly runs CPR training courses at our Birtinya training centre – 8/10 Capital Place – and at locations in Maroochydore and Nambour. CPR courses include scenarios that give you practice in delivering CPR, and in using a defibrillator.
To schedule your next CPR course, please book online via our secure website or phone 07 5438 8888.
We also visit workplaces across the sunshine coast and deliver training on-site. To find out more about on-site workplace training and obtain a group quote, please visit our website.
As part of World Restart a Heart Day, we are offering a 10% discount off all HeartSine AEDs up until 26 October, so contact us now for a quote, or to purchase a defibrillator for your work place.