By Renee Wood
A new public 24 hour defibrillator is now available in Yarra Glen to be used in times of emergency thanks to a local Good SAM member driving the need for the life saving device.
Yarra Glen Masonic Lodge purchased the defibrillator which will be installed at the CFA after Intensive Care Paramedic Peter Scott approached them for support.
Mr Scott started reaching out to local community groups and businesses following the passing of local resident, Frank Wood, who died from going into cardiac arrest.
“As a result of a Good SAM dispatch in the early hours of the morning, I went around to Frank Wood’s house, and with his Son we tried to resuscitate him but we were unsuccessful, “ he said.
“It occurred to me during that time that we had no public defibrillators for 24 hour access and I wasn’t prepared to allow that to happen again within the town.”
The Lodge was honoured to be part of purchasing a defibrillator in honour of Frank Wood, who was also previously a member.
“We had no hesitation of saying yes,” Master of Ceremonies Wayne Barry said.
“Frank did a lot for the community as well, through Freemasonry and the CFA as a captain and things like that.”
The Lodge’s only request was that it be placed on the CFA building in honour of Mr Wood’s role there and the station being in close proximity to the park.
“It benefits the whole Yarra Glen community, not just a few or only Good SAM members.”
This will be the third defibrillator in town that can be accessed 24 hours, including one at the Yarra Glen police station and another on the external walls of the childcare centre near the primary school.
Another is also available during trading hours through the IGA.
The community’s also being reminded about the Good SAM app which is a vital notification service that people can sign up to if they’re willing to perform CPR.
The app is a free global smartphone app which alerts members to nearby cardiac arrests to respond to assist in the emergency.
“They don’t need to know CPR, they don’t need to have any experience in health or emergency services or even first aid, all they need to do is be prepared to have a go and then the triple zero call taker will take them through the process of doing CPR if they need to,” Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott said 16 other Good SAM responders have shown up on the app’s radius around him and hopes to do more local community engagement to get sign ups and teach CPR techniques.
“Part of my grand plan will be to have information sessions for the town once the defibs are out and maybe some practical classes where we can all get together to learn CPR, learn how to use a defib.
As many people as we can get on board to Good Sam – the better.”
