Our Lady Star of the Sea gains life-saving equipment

Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School will install a life-saving Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for school and public use thanks to funding from Ocean Grove Community Enterprise (OGCE). The school received $2781 in funding for the equipment as part of OGCE’s $20,000 November grants allocation.

An AED is a easy to use portable electronic device that helps the heart regain normal function in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Defibrillation (shock) overrides rapid irregular impulses of the heart and aids restoration of normal heart pumping.

Our Lady Star of the Sea principal Rhonda Boyd said the equipment would provide peace of mind for the school community and members of the public.

“The equipment, a lifesaving initiative, will create awareness that Sudden Cardiac Arrest  occurs for many different reasons other than heart attack including conditions that can affect children,” Ms Boyd said.

“I thank the Ocean Grove Community Enterprise for providing funding to the school to achieve this.”

Local MICA paramedic (and school dad)  Alistair McCooke encouraged Our Lady Star of the Sea to apply for the funding through OGCE’s twice-yearly grants scheme.

Mr McCooke, also an award-winning lifesaver, has been campaigning for many years to make defibrillators available at public places throughout Ocean Grove. He said it was important to have the equipment available at schools as well as other more obvious public places such as golf and bowls clubs.

“Sudden Cardiac Arrest has more causes than just heart attack. There are some heart conditions that can cause the heart to stop beating, or trauma where a child might receive a blow to the chest from a cricket ball, a punch to the chest in football and various other causes such as dehydration and complications with medications,” Mr McCooke explained.

“In a person suffering cardiac arrest,  for every minute they don’t get a shock from a  defibrillator, their chances of survival decrease by 10 per cent. Even the world’s best emergency response times are usually outside of that timeframe, therefore the community needs to take a role in first aid through training and installation of defibrillators in public places.”

Mr McCooke demonstrated use of the defibrillator to grade five and six students at Our Lady Star of the Sea this week. The class includes a child who has a heart condition, making OGCE’s funding allocation all the more pertinent.

Tyler Bryan, 11, was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome three years ago. The syndrome is a genetic condition that interferes with electric impulses that make the heart pump properly.

Mr McCooke said the condition could degenerate, causing the heart to become ineffective as a pump.

“The emergency treatment is a shock from a defibrillator, which overrides the electric impulses of the heart, and should result in the heart resuming normal pumping,” he explained.

“All teachers at the school are trained in how to use the equipment, however once you turn on a defibrillator, it tells you how to do it, so no training is required.”

Tyler’s mum Nicole Bryan was thrilled to hear the school was gaining a defibrillator.

“While we hope the equipment never has to be used, it is comforting to know it is there just in case. There have been many examples of young people suffering cardiac arrest, particularly while playing sport. It can occur for many reasons, but in Tyler’s case at least we know the condition exists and can minimise the risks,” Mrs Bryan said.

OGCE chair Jon Mamonski said the organisation had given away around $20,000 in grants to local projects in the November allocation.

“This is our biggest allocation since the OGCE was formed in 2008 - as well as the biggest in the region -  which is fantastic news for the Ocean Grove community,” Mr Mamonski said.

“The enterprise is thrilled to be able to support such a wide range of community initiatives,” Mr Mamonski said.

OGCE raises money through a dividend provided by the Bendigo Bank when customers nominate the enterprise as their chosen charity. Funds are also raised when businesses in Ocean Grove choose the Geelong Community Telco as their phone and data provider. This funding pool helps local groups achieve big things in the community.

Other organisations to receive funding this month include Surfside Primary School, Ocean Grove Garden Club, Ocean Grove Pre-School, Surfside Pre-School, Ocean Grove Primary School, Ocean Grove Carols in the Park, Tranquility Fair, Ocean Grove Football/Netball Club, Rotary Summer Markets and Disabled Surfers.

OGCE allocates grants for community projects twice a year. Visit http://www.oceangrovece.org/ to download the application form.