By KATH GANNAWAY
THERE’S good evidence to say that the best outcome for victims of a sudden cardiac arrest is to have their attack close to a defibrillator.
In the case of former Healesville Swimming Club member, Andrew Moore, having an attack in November at the Croydon Outdoor Pool proved a lucky break.
He was swimming when he had a cardiac arrest. The fourth attempt with the pool’s defibrillator got his heart going again.
It also spurred Ross Ilsley, manager of the Jack Hort Memorial Indoor Pool where Andrew, now 38, was a regular swimmer, to start a serious push for a defibrillator for the pool.
He said the response was overwhelming.
“It was something that we had wanted to get for some time, but never had the money,” he said.
“We know that early defibrillation increases the chances of survival and ideally most public places would have one.
“As well as a lot of young people, we have a lot of older people who use our pool, so that was the logic behind getting serious about getting one here.”
Mr Ilsley said he wrote a couple of letters and spoke to a couple of people and the fund-raising just took off.
Within just a couple of weeks with a number of private donations from pool users and through the Gentle Exercise Group, Healesville High School, The Rotary Club of Healesville and Healesville Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank, $3700 was raised.
The pool now has the defibrillator, paediatric pads and a training defibrillator to ensure that all staff know how to use it.
A special cabinet will ensure it is in a prominent and protected place to ensure that if it is needed, no time will be wasted.
Mr Moore, a husband and father, said it was fantastic to hear that people had been so willing to give.
He swims a couple of times a week and his cardiac arrest came out of the blue.
“Having the defibrillator there made such a difference to my life,” Mr Moore said.
“The more pools or public areas that have them, the better.”
Mr Ilsley said he was extremely grateful to everyone who donated so generously to get such a vital piece of equipment.
