OTR and St John Ambulance SA have joined together to install a public access defibrillator at the Mount Gambier OTR store with the hope it could save lives for the community in the case of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Mount Gambier St John members recently held a community information and cardiopulmonary resuscitation session at the store.
OTR and St John Ambulance SA formed a partnership in May to install defibrillators in regional OTR stores across the state with an aim to help save lives country communities across South
Australia.
OTR chief operating officer Peter Piliouras is proud to be part of the partnership.
“We installed the first defibrillator at OTR Nuriootpa, followed by Mannum, Tailem Bend, Port Augusta, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Remark, Loxton and in November we installed our first in the South East at OTR Naracoorte,” he said, explaining 11 units had now been installed.
“All have been very well received by their local communities and we are proud to support an investment that can potentially save lives and promote awareness and use of defibrillators in regional areas.”
Peregrine Corporation, the parent company of OTR, had an employee, Daniel Lowe, experience a situation where a defibrillator saved his life.
“Back in June 2016, I suffered a sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest when I was at the gym and I know first-hand that having a defibrillator accessible is the reason why I am still here today,” Mr Lowe said.
“I am proud to work for an organisation that is supporting the purchase and installation of these defibrillators where they are needed across rural South Australia.”
Each year around 30,000 Australians suffer from sudden cardiac arrest.
St John Ambulance SA chief executive Michael Cornish said there was a 90pc chance of surviving a cardiac arrest if defibrillated within the first minute and for every minute that passes, the chance of survival reduces by 10pc.
“St John Ambulance SA strongly believes high visibility public sites that are open 24 hours are ideal places for a defibrillator and we are very happy to see OTR helping to look after the wellbeing of South Australians, particularly in regional communities,” he said.
