Heart Foundation backs AUT AED research
Pocket defibrillators could be coming to your neighbourhood after AUT’s Dr Verity Williams was awarded funding from Heart Foundation NZ to contribute to understanding the potential impact cell phone-sized defibrillators could have on people in need.
The research is being led by Hato Hone St John and Ambulance Victoria, exploring whether this ultra-portable device can save lives in real-world settings.
Although much smaller than a regular Automated External Defibrillator (AED), these defibrillators work the same way. They are automated to deliver defibrillation when applied to someone going into cardiac arrest.
Since November last year more than 500 CellAED defibrillators have been distributed through GoodSAM, an app for people confident in using AEDs and doing CPR to be alerted to cardiac arrests in their area.
"Early defibrillation significantly improves survival," says Verity. "What we want to see is these devices being available and used by more people in the community. The impact they could make is huge, especially as anyone can use them – we want to see neighbours saving each other's lives."
She spoke to Seven Sharp about the impact they’ve already been having:
“For an out of hospital cardiac arrest survival is about one in 10. If we have early CPR and defibrillation, we can increase chances of survival to about three times that.”
Through the research she’s hoping to “get these ultra-portable defibrillators to cardiac arrest patients as soon as possible.
“We’re really hoping this going to improve the chances of survival for out of hospital cardiac arrest in New Zealand.”