INCREASED bystander intervention means we are more likely to survive a cardiac arrest compared to 20 years ago, according to new research.
A study, supported by Ambulance Victoria (AV), found Victorians who experienced a bystander-witnessed initial shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in 2021-22 were three times more likely to pull through than two decades ago.
The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry (VACAR) was used to assess more than 102,000 OHCA cases attended by emergency medical services in Victoria between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2022.
The figures showed in 2022, Victorians were 4.5 times more likely to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compared to 2003.
Rates of bystander defibrillation from publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) also increased 22-fold during this time.
AV director research and evaluation, Dr Ziad Nehme, said the data reflected a positive change in bystander intervention.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public health challenge so it’s great we’re seeing more people willing to jump in and help,” he said.
“We know survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest depends on the chain of survival and quick bystander intervention.
“This is why boosting the responsiveness of community members to these events is critical.”
The study is one of the first to examine long term trends in 12-month patient outcomes.
Since 2011, annual follow-up interviews with OHCA patients are completed to assess their health-related quality of life and functional recovery.
Among the 4452 adults discharged from hospital alive during 1 January 2010 – 30 June 2022, 93.3 per cent were alive at 12 months.
Of those who responded to the follow-up enquiry, 85.3 per cent had Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended scores, indicating good recovery or moderate disability, and 38.5 per cent reported full health.
Dr Nehme said the improved survival rates further supported paramedics’ call for Victorians to be familiar with Call, Push, Shock.
“Victoria has one of the best cardiac arrest survival rates in the world, but we can continue to improve those rates by increasing education,” he said.
“Anyone who witnesses a cardiac arrest should call triple zero (000), start chest compressions and, if there’s one nearby, grab a defibrillator and apply shocks as prompted before paramedics arrive.
“In three simple steps you may not only save the patient’s life but improve their quality of life long after the event.”
LIVES SAVED IN RURAL CITY OF WANGARATTA
In 2024, Wangaratta Chronicle reported on two local incidents where an AED and CPR were used to resuscitate people having a heart attack.
The immediate response by family and community members, and easy access to a public AED, was the difference between life and death for 31 year old Michael Stirling, after he suffered a heart attack at the Glenrowan Vintage Café in June.
Public members were able to perform CPR and use an AED, located centrally on the external wall of the Glenrowan Bakery, to revive Michael prior to ambulance MICA and paramedics responding, and getting him airlifted by helicopter to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Michael's Mum Pam said her son wouldn't be here without the community response and availability of the AED.
Pam shared her family's story to help raise awareness of how AED's can save lives and the need for all rural communities to have them.
In November, the actions of two local nurses and a piece of life-saving equipment made a world of difference to attendees at a dog show at the Wangaratta Kennel and Obedience Dog Club when an AED was used to resuscitate an attendee after they collapsed with a medical condition.
The two nurses' quick thinking helped give the patient a fighting chance until an ambulance arrived and paramedics took over.
Rural communities in the Rural City of Wangaratta with AED’s include: Oxley (Oxley Hall); Milawa (Brown Brothers Wine Group); Greta (Flanigan Contracting Greta South); Moyhu (Moyhu Bowls Club, Moyhu Fire Station); Whitfield (Whitfield garage, Gentle Annie Caravan Park); Everton (Everton Community Hall); Peechleba (Peechleba Bushland Reserve committee); Killawarra (private residence, 193 Frosts Road); Boorhaman (Boorhaman Recreation Reserve, Boorhaman Golf Club); Whorouly (Whorouly Hotel); Tarrawingee (Tarrawingee Community Hall) and Bowman’s Forest (Jade Quality Kiwi).
AED's listed locations in Wangaratta are: PRIVATE RESIDENCE, 35 WHITE STREET; COLES SUPERMARKET; APCO SERVICE STATION; RURAL CITY OF WANGARATTA WORKS DEPOT; WANGARATTA LAWN TENNIS CLUB; GOTAFE WANGARATTA CAMPUS (Docker St); CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE SANDHURST; WANGARATTA PERFORMING ARTS & CONVENTION CENTRE; VICROADS; DAN MURPHYS; RURAL CITY OF WANGARATTA; BIG W; WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKET; THE CENTRE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION INC; WANGARATTA CLUB; WANGARATTA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE; EPA VICTORIA; VICTORIAN ABORIGINAL CHILD CARE AGENCY; TYREMAX AUSTRALIA PTY LTD; GOULBURN MURRAY WATER; AVK WANG PTY LTD; ADAMS DRILLERS; WANGARATTA INDOOR SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTRE; WANGARATTA BOWLS AND SPORTS CLUB; WANGARATTA LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE; WANGARATTA MENS SHED; WANGARATTA GOLF CLUB.