From The Mayor – Councillor Patrick Conolly

Have you heard about the Community Defib Project? The project aims to improve community access to defibrillators.

A defibrillator – an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – is a life-saving device that can be used by any member of the public to save the life of someone who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest. A sudden cardiac arrest is when someone suddenly becomes unconscious and stops breathing, as a result of their heart stopping. This is a life-threatening emergency that, without intervention, will have poor outcomes. Every minute counts, so having more defibrillators available in the community can help to improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.

The Community Defib Project was founded by Sophie Wills who is the chairperson of the project committee, assisted by more than 30 volunteers. It is a collaboration between Western Sydney University, the Defib Shop and passionate community members. More than 22 community AEDs have already been installed as part of the project.

This includes Wisemans Ferry, Lower Macdonald, Central Macdonald, Lower Portland, Sackville and St Albans. Now Sophie wants to take it to more areas of the Hawkesbury and she needs your support to secure funding to install more of these life-saving devices in the Hawkesbury. To offer assistance and make donations towards defibrillators, training, resources, hardware, cabinets and signage, contact Sophie Wills via sophie@communitydefibproject.org.au and for more information visit communitydefibproject.org.au

• Topics:

• Local Council