Ngaire Jones
Auckland, May 21, 2019
Early defibrillation is a key factor in surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, something that can be done by bystanders accessing and using AEDs (automated external defibrillators) within the community.
A recent study undertaken by St John and the Auckland University of Technology highlights a worrying discrepancy in the placement of life-saving AEDs throughout New Zealand.
Affected areas
Those living in the least deprived, urban areas are much more likely to have access to AEDs than those in the most deprived or rural areas, a statistic St John Head of Clinical Audit and Research Professor Bridget Dicker is urging New Zealanders to turn around.
Professor Dicker, who is also an Adjunct Professor at AUT, says people in low income areas are not only twice as likely to suffer a cardiac arrest, but have considerably fewer public AEDs available.
“Compared to Europeans, Pacific Island and Maori communities have disproportionally higher incidence of OHCA associated with risk factors such as deprivation, diabetes and smoking. It is imperative we get AEDs into our most deprived areas and start increasing the chance of survival for our most vulnerable people,” she said.
St John has an AED in Marae Programme to provide training and AEDs to marae whanau, a programme than continues to grow each year.
Access to life saving AEDs is also limited in rural areas and St John encourages rural communities to get together to install AEDs that everyone can access.
Fundraising by Communities
Professor Dicker suggested that communities fundraise for AEDs and install them in places people can enter easily such as sports grounds, supermarkets and schools.
Every branch of ASB has an AED.
“Think about where to put the AEDs and make fundraising for them a community event.”
St John Medical Director Dr Tony Smith said that survival rates can be doubled by stepping in quickly with CPR and using an AED.
“By placing AEDs in the community, and teaching people how to use them and do CPR, we can significantly increase the chance of survival for the thousands of people per year who suffer a cardiac arrest.”
People who know how to perform CPR or use a defibrillator can register with the GoodSAM app and be alerted to a cardiac arrest nearby, enabling them to provide CPR and use an AED before emergency services arrive, possibly saving a life.
St John is striving to improve the equality of access to lifesaving treatment and care for all New Zealanders and encourages everyone to learn how to save a life.
St John offers a free 3 Steps for Life information course to teach CPR and how to use an AED.
