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We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
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Learn CPR. Save a Life.
Learn CPR. Save a Life.
20 April 2018
Each week, on average, four people suffer a cardiac arrest somewhere in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. 26% of these happen in a public space.
The chances of someone surviving cardiac arrest increases by 14% when bystanders get straight into administering CPR and keep going until help arrives. Of those who arrested in public, almost 80% received CPR from a bystander, helping to increase survival and save lives.
Where available, using a defibrillator can increase someone’s chances of survival by up to 80% if applied immediately. Defibrillators are completely automated, portable, and deliver a lifesaving electric current, with many being available in the community.
Through Wellington Free Ambulance, the Lloyd Morrison Heartbeat programme offers free CPR and defibrillator training to everyone in the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa region. Training could save the life of a friend, a colleague, or a stranger on the street. You could help someone like Dave.
Dave Hagen was at work with his colleague Craig the morning after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.
Craig heard a crash and was shocked to see Dave lying on the ground. Craig radioed for help, activating a 111 call, and got straight into administering CPR. “Exactly the right thing to do” says paramedic Bronwyn Dunlop who was one of the first to the scene.
“When we arrived two of Dave’s colleagues were giving him excellent CPR – some of best we’ve seen. Really strong chest compressions.
“They got onto it straight away and that’s what keeps the blood flowing into the brain. Their work is what kept him alive and his brain in good shape,” Bronwyn says.
18 months later and Dave is happy and healthy. “How do you say thanks to the people who saved your life?” he says. “It’s just lucky that Craig was with me. I am so grateful for the incredible team effort to keep me alive and bring me back to my family.”
Once trained in CPR you can join a community of lifesavers and download the GoodSAM Responder app. The app alerts CPR trained members of the public to incidents of a cardiac arrest close by, allowing them to respond and provide medical support before emergency services arrive.
Together, our community really can save lives.
For more information about learning CPR through our Heartbeat programme visit the Heartbeat webpage.
Watch here the Seven Sharp interview with Dave and Craig ahead of the GoodSAM launch.