Dubbo Red Cross first aid trainer George Chapman wanted to have automated external defibrillator units installed in high traffic shopping areas, sporting fields and public places throughout Wellington.

“I believe that twenty defibrillators should cover the town including Geurie, Stuart Town and Mumble. Each unit is placed in a local business and staff are trained on how to use it, the idea is to have an AED not more than two minutes walking time apart in high traffic areas of the town,” Mr Chapman said.

Every minute someone having a cardiac arrest doesn’t receive treatment their chance of survival drops by seven per cent.

Each defibrillator unit costs about $3020. They come with an alarmed cabinet, prep unit – consisting of gloves, shears and a face mask – and a window sticker.

“I was the instigator of the successful Dubbo Heart Safe campaign but it was the community of Dubbo that demonstrated, by working together, they could make Dubbo a ‘Heart Safe City’,” Mr Chapman said.

“There are now over sixty AEDs placed in all the main traffic areas of the city, which is an amazing outcome and something I’m really proud of as I know it has made Dubbo a safer place to live.”

Cardiac arrests are not just restricted to elderly or high risk groups. A cardiac arrest can occur in children due to drowning or choking, receiving an electric shock, respiratory-related medical conditions, trauma, poison or congenital abnormalities.

The AEDs have been proven to save lives.