L-R Helen Evans - First Aid Trainer, Gudrun Pratt - Vice Chairperson, Tom Newman - Vice Chairperson, Melissa Price - Member for Durack, David Plenty - Chairperson

St John Ambulance in Kalbarri is promoting the need for more defibrillators in the community and it aims to put 20 into the popular holiday destination.

Federal Durack MP Melissa Price has kick-started the campaign to make sure that Kalbarri is well-equipped to respond to incidences of cardiac arrest by donating a defibrillator for installation at the Kalbarri Visitor Centre.

Automatic External Defibrillators (AED)can be used on those struck down with cardiac arrest and they are proven in dramatically improving a person’s chances of recovery.

St John Ambulance Kalbarri Sub CentreChairman David Plentysaid the defibrillator donated by Ms Price will be maintained bythe Kalbarri Sub Centre.

“Ms Price can see the importance of these machines and now we want to keep the momentum going and aim to get another 18 into Kalbarri,” said Mr Plenty. The Kalbarri defibrillators will be linked into the St John Ambulance WA Community First Responder. This program creates a direct link between St John Ambulance WA, the triple zero (000) call centre, local communities and organisations. This direct link enables individuals to provide immediate assistance to cardiac arrest victims in that time critical period before an ambulance arrives – when it matters most.

“We have also installed a defibrillator in the St John AmbulanceKalbarri Sub Centre but we are seeking around 20, because if a person has a cardiac arrest then they need CPR as well as a defibrillator within three to five minutes of collapse.”

Kalbarri, 160 kilometres north of Geraldton in the Mid West, is a popular coastal holiday destination as well as a centre for tourists, windsurfers, fishers and adventurers.

Ms Price said it is an important community safety initiative and encouraged local businesses to support the defibrillator drive.

Melissa Price - Member for Durack with donated defibrillator - Kalbarri

“You may be able to support the survival of a loved one, a work colleague, a customer or a tourist in Kalbarri if you donate to the defibrillator drive,” Ms Price said.

“Given the festive season, a time for giving, please think about your community contribution, and perhaps a number of businesses can group together for the St John Ambulance Kalbarri Sub Centre to purchase the machine on your behalf, that can save a life.”

The defibrillator will be purchased by the St John Ambulance Kalbarri Sub Centreand can be installed at your place of work or at an identified community site.

The St John Ambulance Kalbarri Sub Centre will maintain the defibrillator.