Under the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) program launched at NSW Ambulance Bankstown Superstation last month, when NSW Ambulance dispatch a crew following a Triple Zero (000) call, it will also alert other emergency services in case they have a responder closer.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said with more than 4,000 automated defibrillators with other emergency services who might be just around the corner to the patient, it “makes sense and takes advantage of their defibrillators and first-aid training”.
The State Emergency Service (SES) and the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) are already signed up to the NSW Ambulance-run program and discussions are underway with other emergency services.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan said about 8,000 people in NSW suffered a cardiac arrest outside of hospital each year and most of them did not survive.
“Overseas results show defibrillation occurring up to two minutes before paramedics have arrived has boosted the chance of survival by up to 20 per cent,” he said.
