By Esther Lauaki
Help is close by in case of an emergency at Alamanda K-9 College.
St John Ambulance Victoria last week donated a defibrillator to the school as part of a commitment to creating a resilient community.
St John community programs leader Alison Osbourne said it was vital that the community was prepared for a sudden cardiac arrest.
“The closest public access defibrillator to Alamanda K-9 College is located almost a 15-minute walk – far too far away to give a potential sudden arrest patient a fighting chance,” Ms Osbourne said.
“Sudden cardiac arrest will continue to happen so it’s vital that the community has everything in place and is fully prepared for this situation, to ensure that it’s giving a potential patient the best chance at survival.
“This begins with ensuring that there is a publicly accessible defibrillator.”
College principal Lyn Jobson said Alamanda was actively involved in St John Ambulance Victoria’s First Aid in Schools program.
“Our college is located in one of Victoria’s largest growth corridors and as a result has grown from 371 students in 2013 to an impressive 2208 students,” Ms Jobson said.
“The school expects a similar growth rate to continue in the coming years, which is why it’s vital that our school has a defibrillator.”
