Background to Shock Verdict

• Survival from cardiac arrest in Australia is literally shocking at less than 10%.
• Victims die because untrained bystanders who witness the arrest fail to perform CPR or use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
• Increasing the number of AEDs in the community and using technology to locate them would significantly improve survival from cardiac arrest
• Legislation that mandates the provision of AEDs in the workplace and areas of high footfall would help to improve access
• The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC)state that “Any attempt at resuscitation is better than no attempt”
• Shock Verdict is aimed at members of the public who have no training in resuscitation to encourage them to call for an Ambulance, deliver chest compressions to the beat of “Stayin Alive”, locate the nearest AED and use it.
• Cleaver Green represents the untrained bystander
• Once trained responders arrive at the scene they can take over and direct the resuscitation
• We were keen to continue the theme of chest compressions to the beat of “Stayin Alive” but present a more contemporary approach by including the use of an AED
• Shock Verdict is meant to raise awareness about resuscitation in Australia and promote formal CPR training with accredited organisations.
• There is scientific evidence that chest compressions alone are effective in adults who have suffered an arrest from a cardiac cause.
• The American Heart Association and the British Heart Foundation support the use of chest compressions alone in this setting
• However the ARC guidelines recommend that you should perform rescue breaths if you are willing and able
• The correct technique to perform rescue breaths should be taught as part of formal CPR training.
• Rescue breaths should not be expected from untrained bystanders because it presents a barrier to any attempt at resuscitation
• Trained responders often choose not to deliver rescue breaths to unknown victims
• Our cardiac arrest survivor who spoke at the launch of Shock Verdict had compression only CPR for 40 mins from a trained police officer.

Dr Paul MacIntyre

Director of Cardiology, Royal Hobart Hospital