Visitors to Kyabram Fauna Park now have access to a life-saving defibrillator thanks to the generosity of Kyabram resident Angela Blight.
Ms Blight, a nurse working in the aged-care sector, won the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in a competition run by Ambulance Victoria in association with GoodSAM — a free, global smartphone application that alerts responders when a person nearby is experiencing cardiac arrest.
Ms Blight said she was hopeful her unexpected win would help to fill a need within the local area.
“I couldn’t believe it when I got a call that I’d won,” Ms Blight said.
“I was asked who I wanted to donate the machine to and saw a need on that side of town.
“I hope having an AED at Kyabram Fauna Park will provide peace-of-mind for visitors.”
Kyabram Fauna Park’s new Automated External Defibrillator is located in the Visitor Centre at the main entrance and has been registered on Ambulance Victoria’s website, which allows Triple Zero (000) call-takers to direct people to this device in a medical emergency.
Ambulance Victoria Kyabram team manager Oscar Giggins said anyone could use an AED, regardless of whether they had received training to do so.
“If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” Mr Giggins said.
“They are safe and easy to use, and will not deliver a shock unless it is necessary.
“Minutes matter and the sooner a person receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation from an AED, the better their chances of survival.”
Kyabram district residents are urged to register with the GoodSAM responder app.
“GoodSAM connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with people who are nearby and willing to respond in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive,” Mr Giggins said.
Every day, about 19 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest and, sadly, only one in 10 survive.
Bystander intervention has been proven to make the difference between life and death.
For more information about GoodSAM, visit www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/goodsam