By JESSE GRAHAM
Firefighters plug in to defibrillator donations…
WARBURTON’S emergency services crews will be better equipped for serious incidents after receiving potentially life-saving new equipment.
The the town’s CFA received a HeartStart Defibrillator this month as a result of a $2000 grant from VicForests, and $1200 in community-raised funds.
It will be stored at Warburton Fire Station within the week.
Brigade Captain Hazel Clothier said the defibrillator will give crews peace of mind when attending incidents in remote areas or where victims are in cardiac arrest.
She said that the brigade wasted no time in getting the remaining funds together after receiving the VicForests grant.
“It’s one of those things were we decided – once you’ve got the idea to have a defibrillator, the best thing is to have it on the premises as soon as possible,” she said.
Thought the machine will be available for community use in an emergency, and registered with Ambulance Victoria, Capt Clothier said the defibrillator will be taken by firefighters when responding to incidents.
She said that, in some extreme cases, firefighters may need to use the defibrillator on one another.
“Primarily, it’s to look after the firefighters themselves,” she said.
“It’s recognising that it’s a demanding job that we do, and with car accidents and people in very stressful situations with house fires, you never really know when it’s going to be needed.”
Warburton firefighter Chris Nicholson said the defibrillator will be particularly useful when responding to events in remote areas.
“The areas we work in are already remote – having the portable defibrillator with us, it’s going to be helpful,” he said.
Defibrillators assist emergency services members in serious incidents, where a person is in cardiac arrest and needs to have their proper heart rhythm restored.
Survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest where a defibrillator is not used is between 2-5 per cent, and that chance of survival reduces by 10 per cent for each minute that the heart problem continues.
VicForests Regional Engagement Manager Liz Langford said the organisation was happy to support the fire brigade with the grant.
“All of us live and work in this community and so do our contractors – we’re happy to do something that will be of a fantastic community organisation, such as the CFA,” she said.
Capt Clothier said that grants, community donating and fundraising was important for the fire brigade to keep up-to-date and effective safety equipment.
“The brigade does fundraise for additional equipment,” she said.
“So contributions we get from other organisations, in recognising the work we do and supporting us, is important to us.”
Ms Langford said that, while she was happy the machine was there for emergencies, she hoped there wouldn’t be a situation where it needed to be used.
