2 weeks Ago By Melissa Meehan
Those who have a heart attack in one Australian state are more likely to survive than they would in almost any other place in the world. or signup to continue reading The 2023/24 Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry annual report has been released, showing groundbreaking advances in response and survival rates across the state. The report found Victoria has the best cardiac survival rate in the country and the third-best in the world.
This is all thanks to early intervention, with bystander CPR administered in 79 per cent of witnessed cases and 141 cases receiving a shock from a public automated external defibrillator (AED) — the highest number on record. As a result of these interventions, and the work of paramedics and first responders, 422 cardiac arrest patients were discharged from hospital, with 84 per cent returning home to their families. Victoria has more than 7500 publicly accessible defibrillators, significantly improving the survival rates for cardiac arrest patients, who without CPR or defibrillator intervention have only a 5-10 per cent chance of survival.
Ambulance Victoria's free GoodSAM app, which alerts people to someone in cardiac arrest nearby, is also making a difference with 17,327 registered responders and 793 cases attended by volunteers in the last year. Integrated with the triple zero emergency service, the app connects patients with registered volunteers who can provide CPR and defibrillation until an ambulance arrives. Ambulance Victoria's director of research and evaluation Ziad Nehme praised the collective effort that has led to Victoria achieving its highest internationally comparable survival rate of 41 per cent of patients surviving to hospital discharge.
The rise from 36 per cent in 2022/23 marks the largest annual increase in the past decade. "These improvements in survival are not by chance," Dr Nehme said. "When CPR and defibrillation are provided quickly, survival chances increase significantly.
" Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said it was impressive to see Victorians going out of their way to help others in need. "Minutes matter in cardiac arrests and when a patient receives CPR and defibrillation before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival increases significantly," she said on Monday. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.
WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters.
WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis.
WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground.
Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.
TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks.
DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement.
