Bundaberg Defib Hero Community Activation Program

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Bundaberg Defib Hero Community Activation Program

The ‘Defib Hero’ program involves activating the community to not only gain access to a defib, but the necessary skills and confidence to use a defib in an emergency.

A goal would be to ensure every resident in Bundaberg has access to a defib within 3 minutes.


Background

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in Australia. Each year around 30,000 Australians die from SCA.

Up to 70% of these deaths can be prevented if treated within 3 minutes of the incident (Source, St John Ambulance).

In Bundaberg 6.4% of residents (6,363) have an existing heart condition comparted to 3.9% of all Australians (Source, ABS Census 2021). This places our community at greater risk of SCA.

At a recent Bundaberg Business Breakfast, Guy Leech, Founder of Heart180 was invited to speak about the importance of community access to defibrillators (defibs) in saving lives.

The mission of Heart180 is to place a defib within three minutes of every Australian and reduce the number of deaths from SCA.

Following the successful breakfast event, Guy Leech approached Council seeking to work towards launching Australia’s first “Defib Hero Community Activation Program”.


How the program will work

Heart180 conducts a 30-day activation where they work with local community groups to identify and register the locations of all existing defibs in our community.

Data on the location, condition, and status of all defibs will be placed on an app called ‘Defib Hero”.

This activation period commenced on 1 November 2023.

The app is already available:

On 29th of November, Heart180 will then launch the Defib Hero app in Bundaberg at a breakfast to be hosted by Guy Leech. The launch will include a report showing the current number and status of defibs in our community, and how Heart180 will roll out defibs and local training.

The world’s best community for access to defibs is the US city of Seattle. Over 3,000 defibs are located in Seattle where 75% of young people are also trained in defib use. Given this, there is a 4-5 times greater chance of surviving a SCA in Seattle than just about anywhere else in the world. There is 1 defib in Seattle for every 400 residents.

The goal would be to set Bundaberg up as a “Seattle” where the region leads Australia in access and training in defib use.

To do this, Heart180 will work with the Bundaberg community over the next 5 years to increase the number of defibs in our community through annual activations that educate and supply the region with defibs.

To monitor success, Heart180 will provide annual reports on improvements in defib access and use. Annual activations will include events to monitor, encourage, train and support defib use in the Bundaberg community.

Over time, the program will collect data on lives saved in Bundaberg as a result of the increase in defibs and training in the community.


Please register your interest here to log your own defib, participate or stay informed regarding the program.

Please register your interest here to be part of the Community Organisation Grant program.

Bundaberg Defib Hero Community Activation Program

The ‘Defib Hero’ program involves activating the community to not only gain access to a defib, but the necessary skills and confidence to use a defib in an emergency.

A goal would be to ensure every resident in Bundaberg has access to a defib within 3 minutes.


Background

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in Australia. Each year around 30,000 Australians die from SCA.

Up to 70% of these deaths can be prevented if treated within 3 minutes of the incident (Source, St John Ambulance).

In Bundaberg 6.4% of residents (6,363) have an existing heart condition comparted to 3.9% of all Australians (Source, ABS Census 2021). This places our community at greater risk of SCA.

At a recent Bundaberg Business Breakfast, Guy Leech, Founder of Heart180 was invited to speak about the importance of community access to defibrillators (defibs) in saving lives.

The mission of Heart180 is to place a defib within three minutes of every Australian and reduce the number of deaths from SCA.

Following the successful breakfast event, Guy Leech approached Council seeking to work towards launching Australia’s first “Defib Hero Community Activation Program”.


How the program will work

Heart180 conducts a 30-day activation where they work with local community groups to identify and register the locations of all existing defibs in our community.

Data on the location, condition, and status of all defibs will be placed on an app called ‘Defib Hero”.

This activation period commenced on 1 November 2023.

The app is already available:

On 29th of November, Heart180 will then launch the Defib Hero app in Bundaberg at a breakfast to be hosted by Guy Leech. The launch will include a report showing the current number and status of defibs in our community, and how Heart180 will roll out defibs and local training.

The world’s best community for access to defibs is the US city of Seattle. Over 3,000 defibs are located in Seattle where 75% of young people are also trained in defib use. Given this, there is a 4-5 times greater chance of surviving a SCA in Seattle than just about anywhere else in the world. There is 1 defib in Seattle for every 400 residents.

The goal would be to set Bundaberg up as a “Seattle” where the region leads Australia in access and training in defib use.

To do this, Heart180 will work with the Bundaberg community over the next 5 years to increase the number of defibs in our community through annual activations that educate and supply the region with defibs.

To monitor success, Heart180 will provide annual reports on improvements in defib access and use. Annual activations will include events to monitor, encourage, train and support defib use in the Bundaberg community.

Over time, the program will collect data on lives saved in Bundaberg as a result of the increase in defibs and training in the community.


Please register your interest here to log your own defib, participate or stay informed regarding the program.

Please register your interest here to be part of the Community Organisation Grant program.

  • How to: become a Defib Hero

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    To become a world leader in defib accessibility, the Bundaberg Region’s 104,000 population will need approximately 260 defibrillators.

    The Defib Hero program involves activating the community to not only gain access to a defib, but the necessary skills and confidence to use a defib in an emergency.

    Bundaberg Regional Council has a goal to ensure every resident in the region has access to a defib within three minutes.

    Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to learn more about how to get involved.

    Being part of the Defib Hero program also means residents can download the Defib Hero App on either iPhone or Android to always have their local defibrillator location handy.

    Find out more here.

  • Bundaberg Region’s Defib Hero grants awarded

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    A group of local businesses and organisations are doing their part to help keep the community safe after championing the Defib Hero program and purchasing lifesaving machines to be placed in publicly accessible spaces in the region.

    In November 2023, Council was the first community in Australia to launch the program with Heart 180 founder, Guy Leech.

    The initiative seeks to activate the community to not only gain access to a defib, but to learn the necessary skills to confidently use a defibrillator in an emergency.

    The goal is to ensure every resident has access to a defibrillator within three minutes anywhere in the region.

    In January this year, Council invited businesses to express their interest in receiving a $1,000 grant towards purchasing a publicly accessible machine.

    Council Community Liveability, Sport and Recreation portfolio spokesperson Cr Carmen McEneany said 17 eligible community organisations responded to be part of the lifesaving program.

    “Seeing a diverse array of organisations put their hand up to have this type of medical equipment available to the whole community is a testament to our region’s spirit and nature,” she said.

    “We want to ensure the region remains safe for all residents, so ensuring that there is appropriate access to lifesaving equipment like this is paramount to our community.”

    Bundaberg Region’s Defib Hero grant recipients:

    • Bundaberg & District Junior Tennis Association
    • Gin Gin Field Archers Inc
    • The Apostolic Church of Queensland – Bundaberg Community
    • Childers Wesleyan Methodist Church
    • QCWA Oakwood Branch
    • Coral Coast Uniting Church
    • QLD Police Service, Gin Gin Police Station
    • Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia
    • Bingera Football Club
    • Bucca Hall Recreation Club

    Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) have operated a caravan park in Bundaberg for six years now, with their core visitors being grey nomads.

    CMCA Business Development Officer, Sean Constable said that this program has enabled their not-for-profit organisation to put into action a conversation they’ve been having internally for a while, but it was cost prohibitive for them.

    “We get about 15,000 visitors a year at this park. Hopefully we’ll never need to use the defib, but if it saves a life, then it’s a great thing.”

    More about the Defib Hero Community Program

    To become a world leader in defib accessibility, the Bundaberg Region’s 104,000 population will need approximately 260 defibrillators.

    Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to learn more about how to get involved.

    Being part of the Defib Hero program also means residents can download the Defib Hero App on either iPhone or Android to always have their local defibrillator location handy.

    Find out more here.

    Read the full Bundaberg Now story here.

  • Defibrillators donated to help save lives

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    Six new defibrillators, donated by local company JRZ Homes, will be placed in easily accessible spaces throughout the region to potentially help save lives.

    A defibrillator is a device that uses an electric charge or current to restore a normal heartbeat if the heart rhythm stops due to sudden cardiac arrest.

    Owner of JRZ Homes Jesse Zielke donated the life-saving machines to Bundaberg Regional Council after attending an information session about Australian ironman legend Guy Leech's Defib Hero Community Program.

    In 2022 Council partnered with Guy to help roll out the program which involves activating the community to not only gain access to a defib, but the necessary skills and confidence to use a defib in an emergency.

    Jesse said he was moved by Guy's presentation and was spurred into action to provide more defibs to assist the community.

    “It was the presentation that really made me want to take action,” he said.

    “Hearing about the high survival rate when using a defib was really interesting, it shocked me how it compared to CPR.

    “I thought, wow I want one of them around if it ever happens to me.”

    Each year in Australia approximately 25,000 people have a cardiac arrest out of hospital, and it’s estimated as few as 5% of these people survive to leave hospital and go home.

    Individuals who experience a cardiac arrest have a 70 per cent survival rate if a defibrillator is administered within the first three minutes, compared to just 10 per cent survival rate without one.

    Survival rates decline by 10 per cent every minute a defib is not applied after that first three minutes.

    Jesse said the donation was his way of giving back to the community.

    “You could need one of these machines at any time and the fact they can be accessed 24/7 and in popular community areas means they can potentially save a life,” he said.

    “We even have them on all of our job sites because you just never know.”

    Mayor thanks JRZ Homes for donation

    Bundaberg Region Mayor Helen Blackburn thanked JRZ Homes’ donation, highlighting the importance of having defibrillators accessible in the community.

    “Having defibrillators strategically placed throughout our region can mean the difference between life and death in critical moments,” the Mayor said.

    “We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of Jesse and JRZ Homes, it’s another example of the spirit of unity and care that defines our community.”

    The six donated defibrillators will be located at:

    • Bundaberg Recreational Precinct – exterior of Main Pavilion
    • Hinkler Hall of Aviation – exterior of building
    • Bargara Turtle Park – exterior of toilet amenities
    • Theodolite Creek Park Grounds (Woodgate) – exterior of toilet amenities
    • Burnett Heads Boat Ramp Area – exterior of toilet amenities
    • Woongarra Scenic Drive Rotunda at Innes Park North

    Local residents are encouraged to download the free Defib Hero app as part of the Guy Leech program to not only locate their closest defibrillator but also undertake the free, 20-minute training to understand how to use and administer a defib and CPR in the event they are a bystander of a cardiac emergency.

    Download the Defib Hero App either through the Apple or Google Play Store.

    Visit the project page to stay informed at Bundaberg Defib Hero Community Activation Program | Our Bundaberg Region.

    Read the full Bundaberg Now story here.

  • Bundaberg Region: Defib Hero status awaits!

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    To support the bid to see life-saving support available within three minutes of every Bundaberg Region resident Council is offering $1,000 grants towards the purchase of a defibrillator for eligible community groups.

    Bundaberg Regional Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from suitable organisations to receive a grant towards the purchase of a defibrillator device.

    In partnership with www.defibhero.com.au, Council is supporting the Bundaberg Defib Hero Community Activation Program which aims to save lives through increasing the number of publicly accessible defibrillators in our community.

    Organisation can register an interest to be considered for one of ten $1,000 grants available towards the purchase of a new defibrillator (eligibility criteria apply).

    Former Australian Ironman Guy Leech recently launched the Australian-first pilot program in the Bundaberg Region, in partnership with Bundaberg Regional Council in a bid to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

    Bundaberg Regional Council has partnered with Defib Hero to identify locations where new defibrillators will have the greatest impact.

    Council will award grants to eligible organisations in locations where a device will have the greatest impact.

    Expressions of interest are easy to do and are open now and close on 31 March 2024.

    Defib Hero launched in Bundaberg Region

    At a recent Business Breakfast, Guy Leech launched the initiative with Bundaberg Regional Council in partnership with Childers Chamber of Commerce.

    Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in Australia and every year, around 30,000 Australians die because of it.

    St John’s Ambulance states that up to 70% of these deaths are preventable if treated within three minutes of the incident.

    The mission of Heart180 is to ensure that a defib is within three minutes of every Australian to reduce the overall number of deaths from cardiac arrest.

    Council will award successful grants to eligible organisations where a device will have the greatest impact for the Bundaberg Regional community.

    Lodge an EOI now on the project page (https://www.ourbundabergregion.com.au/defib-hero-community-program/surveys/defib-hero-community-grant-program).

    Click here for more information on Defib Hero.

    Read the full Bundaberg Now story here.

Page last updated: 27 May 2024, 02:07 PM