By JESSE GRAHAM
TOOLANGI residents will have access to potentially life-saving technology after the township received two defibrillators last week.
Two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) arrived at almost the same time last week with one purchased by the Toolangi Castella Men’s Shed and another donated to Toolangi CFA.
Kinglake Ambulance Service members donated the defibrillators to the Toolangi CFA at a group training session on 10 July to help assist in emergencies in the township.
Toolangi CFA member and treasurer of the men’s shed Michael Nardella said the town needed a defibrillator because the nearest ambulance stations were in Kinglake and Healesville.
“This is an important advance as these units will significantly increase the survival rate of someone whose heart has stopped by heart attack, accident or medical cause,” he said.
“Without a local ambulance service, these units could make all the difference to survival.”
The CFA and men’s shed members got together on 10 July for the handover of the defibrillator from the Kinglake Ambulance Service and also to take part in joint-training for the devices.
The defibrillator units are portable and one will be located at the men’s shed while the other will be at the Toolangi Fire Station, though access arrangements have yet to be established.
Murrindini Shire Council says survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest without a defibrillator are between 2-5 per cent and that the chance of survival reduces by 10 per cent each minute without defibrillation.
