Mr Damian Jolly1, Caitlyn Pavey-Smith1
1St John WA, Australia
Biography:
Caitlyn is the Community First Responder Manager within St John WA, leading Community Response to OHCA through the First Responder App and the State Defibrillator Network.
Abstract:
Background
St John WA operates across the largest geographical area of any ambulance service worldwide, with over 2.5 million km² and a population of 2.88 million spread across urban, regional, and remote areas. Research has shown that survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is significantly lower in rural and remote areas due to longer ambulance response times and reduced bystander interventions. The State Defibrillator Network is central to overcoming these challenges, providing rapid access to over 11,000 AEDs across more than 9,000 locations, including over 3,200 that are accessible 24/7.
Methods
Public Access Defibrillators are mostly stored in locked cabinets, with access facilitated by a code provided promptly during the Triple Zero (000) emergency call. The program maintains the accuracy of location data through yearly updates and replaces electrode pads free of charge following use.
Results
In 2023, the network was activated in 92 OHCA cases, with AED shocks delivered in 49 instances. Of those, 27.2% survived to 30 days, compared to just 8.4% in non-activated cases. This highlights the critical role of early defibrillation in improving OHCA survival, particularly in rural and remote regions, where distances to emergency services can delay response times.
Conclusion
The State Defibrillator Network is pivotal in improving survival outcomes in Western Australia’s rural and remote regions, where the distance to ambulance services often correlates with lower survival rates. By ensuring timely access to AEDs, even in the most isolated locations, the network enhances the chain of survival, offering a model for overcoming geographical barriers.