A Red Cross campaign aims at introducing defibrillators in to schools

Red Cross first aid trainer, Anthony Cameron says a sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere and having a defibrillator on hand can dramatically boost survival rates.

While an actual ‘heart attack’, where a diseased, narrowed or blocked artery disrupts blood flow to the heart is rare in children, a cardiac arrest is far more common. A cardiac arrest is when the heart is no longer beating. A cardiac arrest can occur in children due to drowning or choking, receiving an electric shock, respiratory related medical conditions such as asthma and anaphylaxis, trauma, poison or congenital abnormalities.

 “Cardiac arrests are not just restricted to the elderly or high risk groups,” Mr Cameron said.

33,000 Australian’s suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, of which only 5% survive. Project Defib is an initiative of Red Cross Training Services which aims to reduce the number of deaths caused by sudden cardiac arrest by making defibrillators and related training and support, accessible to all sporting clubs and schools across Australia.

Red Cross and the Heart Foundation both acknowledge the advantage of having easy access to automated external defibrillators wherever large groups of people gather, including schools. An automated external defibrillator has the capacity to analyse what a person’s heart is doing through an internal heart monitor and then, if required deliver a therapeutic shock to restore normal cardiac rhythms .

Mr Cameron said a defibrillator will increase the chance of survival during a cardiac arrest.

“Each minute that passes before a defibrillator is used will substantially reduce a person’s chance of survival in a state of cardiac arrest” Mr Cameron said.

To find out more about Project Defib or to register your interest call 1300 367 428 or go to projectdefib.com.au To purchase a Red Cross first aid kit or to enrol in a Red Cross first aid training course go online to redcross.edu.au or call 1300 367 428