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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-10-16 Daily Xml
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Preventative Health

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (14:55): My question is directed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Will the minister update the council on preventative care initiatives?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Marshall Liberal government was committed with a commitment to rebalance the health system. There are a number of components to this considerable body of work. One of the important elements is the reinvestment in preventative health after Labor's disastrous Transforming Health experiment. There is a lot of work to be done and much of it is at the community level.

Today in particular is a reminder of this as we mark the second international Restart a Heart Day. Restart a Heart Day falls on 16 October every year and is a chance to raise public awareness of the contribution that individuals can make through a few simple steps, focusing on hands-only CPR. In South Australia, the Ambulance Service is supporting Restart a Heart Day over the past week and today with public demonstrations from ambulance crews of hands-only CPR, including today at the Airport.

I had the chance earlier today in the city to meet with two ambulance officers and to practise the hands-only CPR technique. I thank Brad and Steve for their time and for their skill. The message from SAAS is that following a simple three-step process can have a huge impact on the chances of survival for somebody who suffers a cardiac event outside of hospital. Firstly, call 000. This will summons an ambulance and the person on the other end can provide advice through the process.

Second, push. Put your hands in the centre of the chest and compress the chest regularly. SAAS suggests the beat of the Bee Gees Stayin' Alive is the perfect beat. I need to look at Spotify to remember how that goes. It is important not to be afraid of pushing too hard; this will keep the blood flowing. Third is shock. If you have access to an automated external defibrillator, switch it on and follow the instructions. Most public buildings and sporting clubs do have defibrillators.

To put this in context, in South Australia around 1,800 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year, that is, five people a day. Only one of those people suffering a sudden arrest outside of hospital survives but, if that person receives bystander CPR and early defibrillation, their chances of survival increase by up to 50 per cent. SAAS runs both simple courses on CPR and I am told that the attendees include South Australians from their late teens through to their 90s.

With the difference this can make to the survival in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, I strongly encourage South Australians to look into the CPR course or an accredited first aid course. I congratulate SAAS on their work in promoting Restart a Heart Day and thank them for their efforts to raise public awareness around this important area of preventative health.

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