Dear Committee Members PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM

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1 Dear Committee Members PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAM At Defib For Life (DFL), our initiative is simple; we want to educate communities on the subject of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and demonstrate how anyone can easily and safely use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) in an effort to save a life. Defib For Life is engaged in a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). As a self-funded non for profit organisation, we are strongly committed to the implementation of public access defibrillators. The initiative was established following the death of several young athletes and officials at sporting venues in Victoria, in particular Stephen Buckman, a 19 year old player who died at football training in May Off duty Senior MICA Paramedic, Andrew White and Founder of DFL, was in attendance when Stephen collapsed. Andrew and a team of club supporters fought hard to save Stephen s life, unfortunately without success. With 20+ years of Paramedic experience to draw upon, it is Andrew s belief that Stephen may have survived had a Defibrillator been at hand. Detrimental to the outcome, Stephen wasn t defibrillated until after the first ambulance arrived some 22 minutes after he collapsed. Our aim is to help communities to be less reliant upon emergency services and their response times and more confident in implementing their own action plan which can contribute to saving a life. By owning an AED and participating in an education program, you will be equipped with the vital tools to react, should your own cardiac emergency arise. The following information should assist you to better understand the important details on how to acquire and AED for your community.

2 What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest and why are Automatic External Defibrillators vital equipment? A Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. A SCA is a medical emergency and it does not discriminate; it can and does affect people of all ages and from all walks of life. A sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the hearts normal electrical impulses suddenly change, causing the heart to malfunction limiting its ability to pump blood efficiently to the body s vital organs. The most common cause of interruption to the hearts normal electrical impulses is Ventricular Fibrillation (VF). This event is usually the result of cardiovascular disease, genetic disorders or trauma. With the heart muscle fibrillating/quivering, the victim will soon become unconscious and their heart will stop functioning properly within seconds. If the fibrillating heart impulses are not terminated quickly by defibrillation the person will die. It is estimated that 1 in every 500 people have an undiagnosed heart condition; A cardiac arrest can occur without prior warning signs or symptoms, these can be otherwise active and fit people. There are an estimated 30,000 out of hospital events of sudden cardiac arrest each year in Australia; Critically, survival from a cardiac arrest relies upon a timely response from bystanders and/or emergency services. For every minute that elapses post collapse there is a 10% less chance of survival; The most successful survival outcomes are seen when defibrillation occurs within five minutes.

3 "EARLY DEFIBRILLATION" is the vital link in The Chain of Survival. In Australian sporting clubs, schools, workplaces and public precincts, there is a vast lack of knowledge and understanding of what the chain is and how defibrillation makes a difference. The Chain of Survival is an internationally recognised standard in first aid, first responder action that when implemented promptly gives a sufferer the best chance of survival. The components of The Chain of Survival are: Early recognition of the event Calling 000 immediately Commence CPR immediately Apply a Defibrillator as soon as practical Advanced Medical Care by Paramedics on arrival at the scene Expedient patient transport to the hospital At the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the survival rate of people who experience a sudden cardiac arrest is > 85%. Compare this to an estimated 5%-7% chance elsewhere in our Australian communities. First Aid teams equipped with AEDs are readily available at the MCG. Debibrillators Save Lives! Don t wait til it s too late

4 Defib For Life Product Package DFL has researched and tailored an all-inclusive program that fully supports you and your organisation to install a lifesaving AED. In recognition of our strict due diligence process, Defib For Life was the first to introduce all-inclusive packages. The packages aim to minimize your risk and provide a streamline installation process. All packages include some unique features such as a 7 year warranty on batteries and a 4/5 year replacement pad policy; all AED s that are sold also come with full training for your community members to ensure that in case of an emergency you could confidently use your AED. Importantly, defibrillators are registered with 000 (not available all states), allowing ambulance call takers to assist with giving instructions if required, or inform the caller where a defibrillator is located. This also helps to reduce the time to defibrillation, therefore optimising a person s chance of survival. Our Defibrillator package contains: A choice of either a Cardiac Science G5 or Zoll AED plus Automatic defibrillator, which features either a daily or weekly self-testing function. A protective case and a wall-mounting bracket. A set of adult and child (under 8years) defibrillator pads. An accessory kit, facemask, scissors, razor and protective equipment. Instructional DVD. Access to online programs and demonstrations. A face-to-face training session provided for up to 20 persons. This will demonstrate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use a defibrillator. Remote areas may need an online or an alternative training session. Automatic defibrillator location signs. Laminated wall instruction poster. A structured delivery and maintenance process. A seven-year warranty on the unit with 24 hr service contact details. A maintenance schedule that includes the replacement of batteries and defibrillator pads for the life of the seven (7) year warranty, at no extra cost. (Manufacturers suggest an expected life span of access of 20 years.) Registration of the unit with the 000 register. This allows for a 000 operator to talk any user through the procedure when required. (Subject to provisions in each state) Access to a crisis-counselling advisor following a rescue attempt, if required. Registration of each unit; enabling us to monitor the program and to help us provide future industry recommendations.

5 Since 2011, Defib For Life have implemented over 3,000 defibrillators into sporting clubs predominantly. We are delighted that we can now also offer our packages to schools, workplaces, councils and public venues right across Australia. This package incorporates many elements that we have recognised to be vital components of an effective public access defibrillator program. We are able to offer this discounted package as a result of the significant volumes of defibrillators being acquired through a prolonged demand for our program. Our goal is to provide a venue that is safer for people to attend and will assist in preventing further cardiac arrest related deaths. It s a simple yet vital solution; Defibrillators Save Lives and our program is testament to the fact. To find out more go to our website or call Kind Regards Sue Buckman Founding Director sue@defibforlife.org.au The information contained in this document, website and its associated websites is provided as a service to the community, and does not constitute legal advice. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this document/web site and its associated sites and we make no claim that any of the free forms contained in this web site are appropriate for your particular needs. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. Debibrillators Save Lives! Don t wait til it s too late