State Emergency Service volunteers in Orange have responded to two cardiac arrest callouts in the past 30 days as part of a new role for the organisation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While the SES is best known for dealing with storm damage and rescues it has also now begun responding to cardiac arrests.
Orange City unit commander Inspector Rob Stevens said the unit had taken on the work as part of its duties.
It is not our role to diagnose that person
- Rob Stevens, SES Orange City unit commander
He said while the unit had an automated external defibrillator for some time an arrangement with the NSW Ambulance Service to allow them to respond to personal emergencies had recently been completed.
Inspector Stevens said it was aimed at increasing the number of responders available to such emergencies.
"We now get [alerted] at the same time as the ambulance," he said.
"It goes out to all of our 50 members all at the same time. If we're available we respond to headquarters."
Inspector Stevens said every second was critical in trying to save the lives of people who suffered a cardiac arrest.
He said having extra people on site to assist with the emergency was also vital.
"It is very tiring. You get two, maybe three minutes doing CPR before rotating officers," he said.
"It [also] frees the ambulance officers to do other [medical] work.
"It is not our role to diagnose that person."
Inspector Stevens said the SES had so far responded to two cardiac arrest callouts in Orange.
On the first case he said they worked with ambulance workers to try a revive a patient, however they could not be resuscitated after 40-45 minutes of work.
On the other job they were called off after ambulance workers assessed it was not a cardiac arrest and the SES was not needed.
He said the team was happy with the extra work.
"It really is no different in responding to a rescue," he said.
Inspector Stevens said it had not required extra training for crew members.
"We haven't to date. Part of our process of training is we are using AEDs," he said.
Inspector Stevens said the devices were designed to be used by anyone.
"They are very simple to use," he said.
Inspector Stevens said the unit told operators what they needed to be doing.
A NSW Health guide said more than 33,000 people suffered a cardiac arrest in Australia every year.
"Less than nine per cent will survive," it said.
"For every minute that passes after a person has a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival decreases. Quick action could save a life.
"If a person is experiencing a heart attack or more serious cardiac arrest, call 000 immediately for an ambulance."
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...