Kim Shoard has spoken out on the importance of having the devices accessible to the general population and would like to see at least one device available for community use in the main street and sporting groups in the Young region.

Not many people are aware of the businesses in Young that have Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and even less people would know what an AED or PAD is.

“Thirty thousand people a year suffer a cardiac arrest,” Kim said.

“Of those only 9-10 per cent of people survive and every minute from the time a person collapses their chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent.”

Using a PAD can increase chances of survival dramatically. 

“If a young man collapses on the footy field, the man next to him can start CPR right away, First Aid will run from the side of the field,” Kim said. “With a Public Access Defibrillator chances are he’ll wake up before the ambulance arrives.”

A PAD/AED is a portable electronic device able to detect life threatening heart problems and treat them through defibrillation - an electrical therapy which stops arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

The devices have simple and clear visual and audio commands to make it easy for anyone to use. Individuals who have done a First Aid course recently would already know about AEDs as it is now a critical component of the course, but the beauty of the PAD is that it can be picked up by anyone on the street and used to save a person’s life.

A PAD is used to treat Pulseless Ventricular tachycardia and Ventricular fibrillation, meaning a person suffering from a heart episode is potentially able to have their heart shocked back into it’s normal rhythm.

There is no register for AEDs however it is worth asking local sporting clubs or venues if they have a device, “any place with a large gathering of people, really,” according to Kim, should have an AED available for use.

“Sporting clubs could get together to purchase one and share. Shops in the main street could all put money in and have one mounted in the street.” 

Kim would eventually like to see the small communities throughout the Hilltops region with at least one PAD in each town. Even if they’re never used it’s better than the alternative.