General News
23 January, 2024
Local pledge on use of community equipment
EQUIPMENT donated by local businesses and community groups to the disbanded Pyramid Hill CERT ambulance team will be used in the Loddon Shire. The commitment was given last week by Ambulance Victoria acting regional director clinical operations...
EQUIPMENT donated by local businesses and community groups to the disbanded Pyramid Hill CERT ambulance team will be used in the Loddon Shire.
The commitment was given last week by Ambulance Victoria acting regional director clinical operations Amelia Kohn.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Ambulance Victoria CEO Jane Miller would not respond to questions about future use of the equipment when they visited central Victoria earlier this month.
They requested questions be put in writing after concerns had been raised with the Loddon Herald that the equipment could be lost from local towns.
Ms Kohn said: “Ambulance Victoria will continue providing emergency care to the Pyramid Hill community with resources from nearby branches at Cohuna, Kerang and Boort.
“Equipment belonging to the Pyramid Hill CERT purchased thanks to generous donations will continue to be used locally by paramedics in the Pyramid Hill area and surrounding communities such as Boort, Dingee and Mitiamo for training and emergency care.
“AV is working to install another new automated external defibrillator in Pyramid Hill, which would take the total number of publicly accessible AEDs in the township to four.
“Later this month, our paramedics will commence community education sessions to empower residents to provide early bystander intervention in cardiac arrest emergencies, which we know can make a life-saving difference while paramedics are enroute.
“We encourage Pyramid Hill community members to help improve cardiac arrest survival rates by becoming a GoodSAM Responder by downloading the app. You don’t have to be first-aid qualified or have a medical background, you just need to be willing and able to do hands-only CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone,” Ms Kohn told the Loddon Herald last week.