By Romy Stephens
Public access defibrillators are now available at Community Bank branches in Warburton and Yarra Junction.
A defibrillator has been installed adjacent to the ATM at the front of each of the branches and is available for use at all times.
Upper Yarra Community Enterprise chair Rodney McKail said the defibrillator installation is a way to help give back to the community.
The initiative is part of the 20th anniversary celebration of community banking in the Upper Yarra region this year.
“When our team discussed a significant way we could say thank you to our community for their ongoing support, providing 24 hour access seven days a week to this life-saving technology clearly aligned with the values of our Community Bank,” he said.
“The ATMs are an appropriate place to site these defibrillators as they are well known locations that are central, well-lit and provide the added security of CCTV.
“Community is the cornerstone of our Community Bank philosophy. What a fantastic way to exemplify that.”
The defibrillator project is a joint project with the Ambulance Victoria team at Yarra Junction led by team manager Shaun Caulfield.
“It shows a great community partnership between our own local Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank and our own local branch division of Ambulance Victoria,” Mr Caulfield said.
“That we are coming together to help reduce the toll of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by improving access to defibs is fantastic, as we know they do save lives.
“It would be great to return to the defibs located at either of the Warburton or Yarra Junction branches five years from now and find they have not been used, but it is comforting to know they are there and accessible 24/7 if they are needed.”
