- Published:
- Thursday, 17 July 2025 at 1:11 pm
Wycheproof and Donald locals have received a vital boost with the addition of two new automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are publicly accessible 24/7.
AEDs are used to attempt to shock the heart back into rhythm following a cardiac arrest.
“Cardiac arrest happens when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating and it can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere,” Ambulance Victoria (AV) Acting Buloke Gannawarra Paramedic Community Support Coordinator Chloe Hodson said.
“Minutes matter in a cardiac arrest and the sooner a person receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation from an AED, the better their chances of survival.
“In fact, when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.
The heart-starting device in Wycheproof has been donated as part of the Heart Safe Communities program and will be located at the Wycheproof BP petrol station (432 Broadway, Wycheproof).
“We’ve chosen to install this new AED at the BP because it is on the main street at a common stopover spot for travellers to refuel. It will be a convenient, central location for bystanders to collect the AED in case of a cardiac arrest in town.”
The new AED comes as Wycheproof nears completion of the Heart Safe Communities initiative.
The program is a year-long, joint initiative between AV and the Heart Foundation which works to equip communities across the state with the skills to take life-saving action when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
“As part of the Heart Safe Communities initiative, we’ve been able to significantly increase the number of AEDs in Wycheproof,” Chloe said.
“Counting this new AED, there will be a total of nine local AEDs, six of them publicly accessible 24/7.”
The other five 24/7 publicly accessible AEDs are located at the Wycheproof Men's Shed, Elders Wycheproof, Wycheproof Bowls Club, Wycheproof Caravan Park and Wycheproof Golf Club.
Donald’s new AED will be located at Donald Nutrien Ag Solutions (46 Racecourse Rd, Donald).
“This new heart-starter has been donated to AV by Donald High School and we have provided a new battery and pads to donate it onwards to Nutrien Ag Solutions,” Chloe said.
“Currently, there are limited AEDs along Racecourse Road which is an industrial area of Donald, so this new AED will provide a great boost of service for this area in case of a nearby cardiac arrest.”
Chloe said using an AED doesn’t require training and encouraged community members to have a go if they find themselves near a medical emergency.
“Anyone can use an AED. If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” she said.
Anyone can save a life by using three simple steps: Call (call Triple Zero 000), Push (push hard and fast on the middle of the chest to perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED if available).
Chloe also encouraged people across Loddon Mallee to sign up to the GoodSAM(opens in a new window) app.
“GoodSAM is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to start CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive,” she said.
“You don’t have to be first-aid qualified or have a medical background to sign up – you just need to be willing and able to do hands-only CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone.
“GoodSAM responders will be directed to nearby public AEDs when they accept an alert in the app, so they can pick it up on their way to the patient. That’s another reason it’s so important to have these additional AEDs available in Wycheproof and Donald.”
Victoria has Australia’s best cardiac arrest survival rate and the third best in the world following a record year. Read more about the latest cardiac arrest statistics in the 2023/24 VACAR Annual Report(opens in a new window).
Call, Push, Shock resources are available in multiple languages on the Ambulance Victoria website(opens in a new window).
Updated