Defibrillators in ACT Light Rail Carriages
Announced today, Monday 17 February 2020, Canberra’s light rail fleet now has a defibrillator on each of its 14 vehicles, ready if needed to help save lives.
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“We are proud to partner with the Rotary Club of Aurora Gungahlin who has funded this wonderful initiative,” Canberra Metro Operations, General Manager Mr Tilo Franz said.
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“The portable defibrillators will be placed securely in the driver cabins of each light rail vehicle, with drivers and customer service officers ready to use them should urgent medical assistance be needed.
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“Passengers on board can press any of the ten Emergency Help Points on the light rail vehicles to access a defibrillator. The defibrillators can assist with survival rates in a cardiac arrest until the arrival of the ACT Ambulance Service.
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“The key to improving survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest is to apply defibrillation in the first three minutes,” Mr Franz said. When a defibrillator is used within 3-5 minutes of collapse from cardiac arrest, a person’s chance of survival is dramatically increased – by as much as 50-75%. The ability to use a defibrillator immediately allows the best chance of survival until the arrival of an ambulance.
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St John Ambulance will help to maintain each of the defibrillator units to ensure they are in peak working order ready to be activated in a medical emergency.
