Brisbane First Aid

The evidence is clear: early CPR and defibrillation save lives

The NSW Ambulance Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry recorded 10,625 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest events during 2024. Resuscitation was attempted, or the person regained circulation before paramedics arrived, in 3,587 cases.

The report provides powerful evidence about the importance of immediate action by members of the public. This is an outstanding result and first aid trainers should be congratulated.

When bystanders performed CPR before paramedics arrived:

• 8.3% of patients were alive 30 days later
• Without bystander CPR, only 0.5% survived for 30 days

When a bystander delivered a shock using an automated external defibrillator (AED):

• 45% of patients were alive 30 days later
• Where no bystander AED shock was delivered, survival was 2.6%

These figures should be interpreted carefully. They do not mean CPR or an AED will produce the same outcome in every cardiac arrest. Factors such as whether the arrest was witnessed, the person’s initial heart rhythm, the cause of the arrest and how quickly treatment commenced also affect survival.

Although these are NSW results, there is every reason to expect the same overall pattern across Australia. Victorian registry data also show substantially better survival when bystanders provide CPR and use an AED. The exact percentages vary because states use different patient groups and outcome measures, but the message remains consistent: early action improves the chance of survival.

The NSW report also found that the median ambulance response time to a witnessed cardiac arrest was 10 minutes across the state and 12 minutes outside metropolitan NSW. Those minutes before paramedics arrive are critical.

A cardiac arrest cannot wait for an ambulance.

Recognise the emergency. Call Triple Zero (000). Start CPR. Send someone for an AED. Apply it as quickly as possible and follow its instructions.

CPR training gives people the confidence to act. Accessible AEDs give them the equipment needed to provide the intervention that may restart a person’s heart.

Last night a fantastic group of Ravens volunteers completed their First Aid and CPR training at Rochedale State School

A big thank you to Brad from Brisbane First Aid for running an excellent course and sharing plenty of practical knowledge that will help keep our players safe throughout the season.

We're lucky to have such dedicated volunteers willing to give up their time to support the club and our kids.

Thanks everyone for stepping up and helping make the Ravens a safer place to play footy!

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We are now open on Brisbane’s Northside. Come and check us out in Nundah!

New location alert. We are opening a new location on Brisbane’s Northside!

357 Australians drowned last year. Queensland recorded 90 deaths, a 36% spike above our 10 year average.

That is not a statistic. That is 90 families shattered.

The scariest part? Many of these deaths happened in places we visit every weekend. Rivers. Beaches. Backyard pools.

Emergency services take 8 to 10 minutes to arrive. Brain damage begins in 4 to 6 minutes. The only thing that fills that gap is a trained bystander.

Do you know what to do if someone stops breathing in the water?

We run nationally recognised first aid and CPR courses across Brisbane.

Courses take just a few hours and could help you save a life this summer.

https://brisbanefirstaid.com.au

Safe Sleep Week is here.

This week is a timely reminder that childcare safety is not just about what happens in an emergency. It is also about reducing risk before something goes wrong.

At Brisbane First Aid, our CPR and first aid training now includes a fully online non-accredited safe sleep module for educators working with infants and young children.

That means more value for your team, less admin for your centre, and more confidence in both emergency response and everyday safe sleep practices.

This year’s Safe Sleep Week message from Red Nose is:
Know the why. Check the space. Make it safe.

Send us a message if you’d like to organise training for your team.

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