Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) is on a mission to prepare its members and residents from the wider community on how to react if a cardiac emergency should arise.
On Monday, September 4, a group of 23 of the club’s Silver Salties attended an awareness session on Automated External Defibrillators (AED).
The main objectives were to explain how they work, where to find one and how to use one in a cardiac arrest emergency.
Within an hour the group saw demonstrations on adult and infant manikins which reinforced how to use defibrillators in emergencies.
“Over 8,500 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in NSW every year,” a spokesperson said.
“Only 12 per cent will survive.
“Using CPR and AED can improve the survival rate to around 70 per cent so it is vitally important for us as a community to feel confident in locating and using these lifesaving devices.”
The 60-minute In a Heartbeat awareness session is non-certificated and free of charge.
It provides information to boost the confidence of anyone in the community to locate and use AED should a cardiac arrest emergency arise.
The trend towards providing public access defibrillators in the community will mean greater access should the need arise.
The next free awareness session will be held at Ocean Beach SLSC from 9am-10am on Sunday, September 24.
It is open to the public to attend and details are available on 4344 2800.
Source:
Ocean Beach SLSC