Schiller’s push for life-saving equipment

Lenore Schiller spoke during the public forum section of December’s meeting where she emphasised the need for an Automated External Defibrillator and Epipen.

The volunteer lifeguard reiterated the relevance of her request by reading to councillors confronting statistics collected from Dr Christopher Semerian of Sydney Medical School, Sydney University.

It is estimated 30,000 Australians die of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) each year, claiming the lives of four people under the age of 35  each week.

“It does not just affect the elderly,” Schiller said.

“SCA may be brought on by vigorous exercise, a genetic condition, drowning or shock.”

She continued to explain 95 per cent of patients die before reaching hospital, this figure could be reduced considerably if workplaces, schools, public facilities and households were equipped with an automatic defibrillator.

“Without a defib a SCA patient’s survival rate decreases by 10 per cent every minute,” she said.

“After four minutes brain damage sets in and within eight minutes death.

“Without a defibrillator shocking the heart there is zero per cent survival rate.

“By applying a measured shock to a person suffering a lethal rhythm within the first minute increases their survival rate by 70 per cent.”

Schiller’s request of an Epipen was also heard, backed by the reality of two bee stings already recorded at the pool this year.

“None of these resulted in Anaphylaxis but imagine if one of these victims were allergic and had left their medication at home,” she said.

It was also suggested both devices may be used at the adjoining skate park.

The cost of an Automatic Defibrillator ranges from $1900 to $2800, and the Epipen can be purchased for around $160.

“I have sat where you sit tonight and understand budgetary constraints, but what price can be placed on a life?” she asked.