The Tasmanian Liberal Government has now delivered 180 defibrillators for community groups, individuals and not-for-profit organisations all over the state, thanks to the Government’s Community Defibrillator Fund.
I’m delighted the Rowella Hall in Kayena is one of 89 groups and organisations to receive a defibrillator under the second round of this program, which was a commitment from the 2018 election.
This latest round followed an earlier round in 2019, which delivered 91 defibrillators.
Importantly, Ambulance Tasmania assessed applications to the program against set criteria to ensure access to defibrillators is maximised throughout the state.
We know defibrillators save lives, and a bystander’s response in those first few minutes can be crucial. In fact, the evidence suggests that intervention within 2-4 minutes (through CPR and AED application) may increase the chance of survival by up to 50 per cent.
Ambulance Tasmania provides support and training as part of the Community Defibrillator Fund program, and encourages registration with the Ambulance Tasmania AED Locator smart phone app which shows the locations of community-held AEDs across Tasmania.
The AED Locator App is available on iOS, Android and Windows mobile platforms, the app uses a phone’s location to find the closest AED and provide directions.
This program delivers on the Government’s commitment to boost access to lifesaving defibrillators and builds on our commitment to make Tasmanians’ lives better and safer, especially for those living in rural and regional areas.