Northern Beaches Council has become one of the first councils in metropolitan Sydney to partner with Heart of the Nation to install defibrillators at bus stops and public spaces.
Council has joined forces with former yellow Wiggle Greg Page and his charity Heart of the Nation to roll-out publicly available defibrillators (AEDs) in 15 key locations. The AEDS have been generously donated by ClubGRANTS from Mounties Group, owners of the local Harbord Diggers.
Around 28,000 Australians suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year and only 10 per cent survive. The former yellow Wiggle was one of them, when he collapsed during a performance in January 2020.
It was only one day after his 48th birthday when he ‘dropped dead’ from a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to a nearby AED, off-duty medical professionals and volunteers from the audience, his life was saved.
He’s now made it his mission to make AEDs available in more locations and to train as many people as possible on how to use them.
Heart of the Nation CEO Greg Page said anyone can learn how to use AEDs to try and save a life.
“Having AEDs that can be accessed at any time of the day or night such as those being rolled out by Northern Beaches Council thanks to funding provided by Mounties Group, means that lives can be saved,” Mr Page said.
“If residents download the Heart of the Nation app and sign up as responders they can be notified of nearby cardiac arrest events, access the AEDs and deliver it to someone in need.”
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said Council was proud to be a part of this life-saving mission.
“We are installing life-saving defibrillators, generously donated by Heart of the Nation and Mounties Group, in major public areas and bus stops across the Northern Beaches,” Mayor Heins said.
“This means any member of the public can access these life saving devices when they need them, no matter the time of day.
“If you can access an AED within three to five minutes of someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, you can increase their chance of survival to 70 per cent.
"We encourage everyone in the community to familiarise themselves with the locations because you just don't know when you may need to use one."
Heart of the Nation has launched a national campaign and free app to educate 20,000 Australians on how to perform CPR and use an AED.
The new AEDs are being installed at:
- Bus stop, 345 Barrenjoey Road, Newport
- B-Line terminus, Village Park, Mona Vale
- B-Line bus stop, 1472-1518 Pittwater Road, Warriewood
- B-Line bus stop, 1417 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
- B-Line bus stop, 1060 Pittwater Road, Collaroy
- B-Line bus stop, 890 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
- The Strand, Dee Why
- B-Line bus stop, Warringah Mall, Pittwater Road, Brookvale
- B-Line bus Stop, 84 Kenneth Road, Manly Vale
- 381-383 Sydney Road, Balgowlah
- Bus stop, 138 Sydney Road, Fairlight
- Bus stop, 1 Belgrave Street, Manly
- Bus stop, 206 Pittwater Road, Manly
- Bus stop, 681 Warringah Road, Forestville
- Bus stop, 56 Glen Street, Belrose
There are three steps to take when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest:
- CALL – Call Triple Zero (000)
- PUSH – Start CPR
- SHOCK – Use an AED
AEDs are designed to be used by anyone. You do not need a qualification or certification to operate one. An AED will not shock a patient that doesn’t need to be shocked and it will not harm the responder.
For more information about Heart of the Nation and how you can help save a life visit www.heartofthenation.com.au
To see a map of AED locations on the Northern Beaches visit www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/community/safety-and-wellbeing/defibrillators