The addition of defibrillators on board the Echuca V/Line train line is a huge win for public safety, according to Acting Public and Active Transport Minister Steve Dimopoulos.
Ninety AEDs have been installed on V/Line trains, including ones that pass through Echuca, with many more to be progressively rolled out over the coming months.
“The installation of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) onboard our trains is just another example of how we are making the commute safer for passengers” Mr Dimopoulos said.
Defibrillators on trains will help ensure critical assistance can be given to a person on board in the vital first few minutes after a cardiac arrest.
Ambulance Victoria data shows that combining CPR with defibrillation can increase a person’s survival rate by up to 70 per cent.
“Minutes matter in cardiac arrests, and when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles,” Ambulance Victoria clinical operations executive director Anthony Carlyon said.
“You don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to call (call 000), push (perform CPR) and shock (using an AED).
“We always welcome more AEDs available in our communities, especially in regional and remote locations.”
According to Ambulance Victoria, about 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest every day, but only one in 10 survive.
“Having defibrillators on V/Line trains will significantly increase a person’s chance of surviving an emergency,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
V/Line’s chief executive officer Matt Carrick said the company had been working diligently on the project.
“This is a really important project and will significantly enhance staff and passengers’ ability to respond to these incidents onboard our train services,” he said.
“Each of our different train types have required a different design so we have been working to develop prototypes to ensure the units can be safely installed and are fit-for-purpose.”