One of Griffith Soroptimist’s projects for 2024 is all about External Automatic Defibrillators (AEDs).
When a person suffers a cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) TIME is the important factor! When a heartbeat cannot be detected, CPR can be administered but an AED can be the difference between life and death. Heart of the Nation estimates there will be about 27 cardiac arrests in the Griffith area this year.
There is a free app everyone can put on their phone called Heart of the Nation (HOTN). This app allows you to call 000 immediately AND shows you where the nearest AED is located.
The first step is to encourage as many businesses and organisations who already have an AED to register it on the HOTN website. The Griffith Business Chamber and Griffith Women in Business are on board and have asked all their members to add their AEDs to the website.
The second step is to let everyone in Griffith know about the HOTN app and encourage everyone to put this app on their phone.
You don’t know when YOU might be with someone who experiences a cardiac arrest. CPR and finding an AED is essential.
Soroptimists are also encouraging businesses and organisations who don’t have an AED to think about buying one for your staff/clients. When you do get one installed, the next step is to add your AED to the HOTN website.
Griffith City Council is doing their bit in regard to AEDs.
Twenty of the AEDS located at Council facilities are registered on the Heart of the Nation app.
Council has also funded another seven AEDs at locations around Griffith. Council is also looking at working with HOTN to look at ways to make AEDs even more accessible in our city.
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