Heart attack help at hand with more defibrillators on the way for sporting clubs

Defibrillators have been placed at high-traffic areas across the city and at several sporting clubs, with a new unit to be installed at Lake Canobolas.

Orange City Council has installed defibrillators at the Aquatic Centre, the airport, the Home & Community Care Centre, the Community Information Centre, the Orange Civic Centre (for theatre and civic centre customer service areas) and its works depot.

Two paramedics students, a registered nurse and other people used a defibrillator at Pride Park on Saturday to save the life of Orange City coach Steve Hamson after he suffered a heart attack.

They kept Mr Hamson alive until ambulance officers arrived about 15 minutes later.

According to the Orange City Facebook page Mr Hamson woke in Orange hospital where he has been talking to his family but has a “fair recovery ahead of him.”

Orange Emus rugby club president Steve Fergus said they installed a defibrillator in their medical room about 18 months ago.

“We’ve never had to use it, thankfully,” he said.

With funding from Central West Radiology a defibrillator will be installed on the western beach side of Lake Canobolas on Friday.

Medical liaison officer Regan Ferguson said it was donating the unit to the Dragons Abreast dragon boat club but it would be available for all lake users.

Meanwhile, all grass-roots, incorporated sporting clubs in Orange will be able to apply for funding for a unit under the state government’s Local Sport Defibrillator program.

It has allocated $4 million to be spent over four years to provide half the funding for each unit which range in cost from $1000-$3000.

Applications will open in October with the government will determine a supplier and organise training.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said they would be rolling out more than 2500 defibrillators over the next four years.