Call for life-saving changes

Teenager Penelope Swart has made an impassioned plea to Moreton Bay City Council for help to promote the region’s life-saving AEDs.

The 15-year-old called on Council for clearer signs marking exactly where automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are located.

These should be significantly visible from a distance and guide people toward AEDs “that would otherwise go unnoticed”.

Also, a page on Council’s website locating “council-sourced and privately-owned” AEDs - so “no matter where you are in Moreton Bay you know where the closest AED is”.

This should include a map, details on how to find AEDs, report any damage and “links to apps or first aid courses that people can investigate”.

Penelope said: “AEDs don’t just restart the heart. They are the beatings of our community’s commitment to health and wellbeing, install confidence and ensure solidarity.”

Her address, using the Community Comment platform at a general meeting, was applauded by all councillors.

"Explore listings"

“Council thanks Penelope for her Community Comment and will explore listing AED locations,” a spokesperson said.

Nine potentially life-saving defibrillators were installed at selected parks and outdoors areas across City of Moreton Bay last year.

AEDs treat sudden cardiac arrest with an electric shock to restore a normal heart rhythm, can be used with little or no training and have voice and visual guides.

During research, Penelope found plenty of AEDs, but "often hidden behind locked doors or walls, inaccessible when people need them most”.

“For as long as I can remember, the first thing I do when I go to a new place is look for the nearest automatic external defibrillator,” she said.

“I know this may appear unusual, but for me it is an important part of my societal role because every day roughly 90 Australians suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital or medical facility. This can happen to anyone.”

"Proud to say so"

Ms Swart said she “wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt of having to watch this, knowing how to help, but being unable to do so because I couldn’t access an AED.

“I found places that had a very visible and accessible AED were proud to say so, proud to share they successes.

“I also found that areas where AEDs were hidden or not as visible people tended to be a bit more wary.

“I heard stories of people intentionally avoiding these areas because they were afraid of needing an AED and being unable to access one.

“This may seem irrational, but it is completely unacceptable especially since someone can think this while being a few steps from a functioning defibrillator.

“Every year thousands of AEDs are installed throughout the country and often go unused. Why? Because they can’t be used if no-one knows where they are or understands their significance. This needs to change.”