The continued push for more potentially life-saving defibrillators in the Upper Yarra has received another boost with Wandin North business Nutrien Ag Solutions acquiring an AED.
The AED will be located right at the entrance of the Nutrien Ag Solutions building ready for the use of the public, Nutrien Ag Solutions is located on George Street, just behind the Warburton Highway shops in Wandin North.
Administration staff member Lee Walter said she knew there was one other defib in Wandin but worried about what would happen when that shop is closed.
“There isn’t another one around that I was aware of, and we’re open every day except public holidays and Sundays, so I thought it would probably be worth us getting one here,” she said.
“So I asked our safety and health officer what the chances were, and they went and got us one which was great.”
Applying a defibrillator and performing chest compressions are considered the best way to respond to cardiac arrest immediately.
Ms Walter said all the staff at Nutrien Ag Solutions have done first aid and CPR training.
“It’s really important that people do their CPR training and then having access to a defib is really important because that increases the chances of survival for anyone,” she said.
“I think everyone has known someone who had heart problems or has suffered a heart attack. Fortunately, I haven’t had to do CPR on anyone but we are all over 40 in this workplace and even that is a higher risk.”
An AED’s computer analyses a heart’s rhythm, determining whether defibrillation is needed when someone is suffering a cardiac arrest. A recorded voice cue then prompts the user to deliver a shock, which stuns the heart and stops all activity, giving it a chance to return to its normal rhythm. Even if unsuccessful, the AED will download information that can be provided to give to treating clinicians at a hospital to provide details about the patient’s condition at the time of the event.
Ms Walter said she thought it was important for staff and the community of Wandin to have as much access as possible to a defib.
“We just want the people of Wandin to know that it is here and available to them,” she said.
“It will be situated inside the front door, so come in and grab it, because the quicker you get onto it, the better.”
