URGENT UPDATE: Sunbury residents are urged to act NOW as Ambulance Victoria (AV) gears up for its annual Shocktober campaign. On October 11, the Sunbury Show will host a vital Call, Push, Shock session aimed at equipping locals with essential cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and knowledge of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
This initiative comes as cardiac arrest incidents continue to pose a significant health risk. Every day, approximately 21 Victorians experience a cardiac arrest, yet only one in ten manage to survive. AV’s acting director of regional and clinical operations, James Tehan, emphasizes the importance of immediate action. “For every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 percent,” he stated, highlighting the critical need for community involvement.
The Shocktober campaign marks its sixth year of operation, dedicated to enhancing cardiac arrest survival rates throughout Victoria. Tehan urges all residents, regardless of their medical background, to become familiar with the life-saving steps: “Just remember to Call (Triple 000), Push (Perform CPR), and Shock (use an AED).”
In addition to CPR training, locals are encouraged to sign up as GoodSAM responders via the mobile app, which connects individuals in cardiac arrest with volunteers prepared to provide hands-only CPR while paramedics are en route. Currently, there are over 17,300 GoodSAM responders across Victoria, but more volunteers are urgently needed.
Last year, AV paramedics responded to 7,545 cardiac arrest patients, underscoring the critical nature of this health emergency. “Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level,” Tehan noted, stressing the unpredictable nature of such incidents.
Residents of Sunbury are encouraged to join the Call, Push, Shock session at the Sunbury Show on October 11, where they can learn these life-saving techniques firsthand. For more information about Shocktober, the GoodSAM app, and how to learn CPR and use an AED, visit ambulance.vic.gov.au/shocktober.
This is your chance to make a real difference in your community—don’t miss out!
