Russell becomes our Defibrillator Heartland

 

What began 3 years ago with a group of Northland residents fundraising to buy computers for their local doctors, started a Trust that is now supplying vital medical equipment to their entire district.

In that time the Russell Community Medical Trust has purchased an impressive array of essential equipment for their Medical Centre - everything from an ophthalmic slit lamp to assist in removal of objects from the eye, to a powerful 87amp, 230volt generator to make certain that power interruptions never interfere with medical treatments.

But perhaps their most ambitious and unique project has been their recent purchase of 15 Heart Start defibrillators. These will be used to treat victims of cardiac arrest in the places where these heart attacks occur - statistics show that 80% of these happen in the home.

Vera Warren, Chair of Fundraising for the Trust, makes these points. “With good CPR and immediate use of these machines, which utilise the latest technology, we can save up to 40% of the people who now die.

For each defibrillator we have trained local people who will administer CPR and defibrillation until the ambulance arrives. So far 80 trained residents are able to respond to situations that occur frequently in isolated locations where ambulances are up to 50 minutes away.

Our defibrillators are spread more than 20 kilometers in and around Russell. They are located in publicly accessible places in homes, fire stations, marae, RSA, hotels, with the police and at our Medical Centre.

We are also distributing hundreds of fridge magnets that not only give a simple guide to immediate heart attack treatment, but the telephone numbers of trained locals and the location of their nearest defibrillator.”

In the words of Tony Devanney, St Johns District Operations Manager, Northern Region,

“St John is totally behind this important initiative led by community groups such as the Russell Community Medical Trust.

It is important that people are trained in the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and have quick access to them.  It is only ‘early’ defibrillation along with good CPR that saves lives. These community AEDs will save lives.

It is humbling and exciting that community groups are taking the initiative and responsibility to lead these projects to implement AEDs into the community.  It is an expensive exercise and only with the fundraising expertise of groups such as the Russell Community Medical Trust, along with the generosity of the community, that it is made possible.

This Trust is leading the way in Northland in the fundraising and implementation of these AEDs and has developed an excellent model for other groups to follow.  It is not just the fundraising and implementation that is necessary but the ongoing support is just as important.  The Russell community should be proud of themselves’.

 On Saturday afternoon at the Russell Swordfish Club there was a presentation announcing the project. The trained locals were given their defibrillators and introduced to the community. Also present was Michael McGivern who, with the assistance of Shane Shraaft, generously gave days of their time, free of charge, to train all those responsible for use of the defibrillators.

Recognition was given to Laurie & Bruce Gibbs, two great supporters who donated 5 of the 15 defibrillators.  Although they now live in the US, they demonstrated their love of Russell and the community in this most wonderful and generous way. All expressed their admiration and thanks.

This initiative from the Russell Community Medical Trust has attracted much interest around the country, addressing, as it does not only the needs of an aging population, but a realisation that heart attacks also afflict the young. Ignoring the situation is no solution and waiting for outside funding could be a fatal mistake.

Many could learn a lifesaving lesson from the resourceful residents of Russell.

 For further information go to www.rcmt.co.nz