Resident volunteers to help with defibrillation
A Pearl Beach resident has volunteered to help people needing a defibrillators.
Luke Stevenson has signed up as a responder with the phone application created by the NSW Ambulance Service.
The Goodsam app alerts him when someone nearby goes into cardiac arrest and a Triple Zero call has been received.
If he accepts an alert, the app shows him where to find the patient and the location of any nearby defibrillators.
Volunteers administer resuscitation while an ambulance is dispatched.
Mr Stevenson said resuscitation bought time "to keep patients' body and brain going".
"The ambos are brilliant at what they do, but if we as responders can get to a patient first, this can help improve their survivability."
He said: "As a responder you are helping somebody on the worst day of their life, and being able to give that help and support is important to them and rewarding to you."
"It's rewarding to take what you have learned and apply it in the real world.
"I am definitely more confident having actually performed CPR.
"It helps you to build endurance and confidence, too."
He said he had been alerted on several occasions and had been able to attend two so far.
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch said members of the community who were willing and able to perform resuscitation could make a real difference to peoples' survival rates.
"Nobody ever expects to go into cardiac arrest.
"For every minute that a patient doesn't get chest compressions, their chances of survival fall by between seven and 10 percent.
"Lives are already being saved, thanks to the assistance of GoodSAM volunteers," she said.
The app had 7300 responders signed up and 4300 defibrillators registered, incorporating the NSW public access defibrillator registry.
"Anyone with a defibrillator is encouraged to register it with NSW Ambulance, so responders can see it in the app."
Information about the application and becoming a registered responder can be found at https://www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/goodsam/volunteering-with-goodsam
SOURCE:
Media release, 18 Sep 2024
Joely Langmaid | Office of the Member for Gosford | 0422 103 440