Altona, 13 March 2012:  Altona, Laverton/Altona Meadows and Point Cook Community Bank® branches and Bendigo Bank Williamstown branch, today announced of an additional 40 automatic defibrillators units will be donated to sites across the community.

The announcement at the Altona Life Saving Club of more units follows the purchase of 15 defibrillators for local community clubs in January as part of the first phase of the Defib Your Club for Life program. Funds for this project are provided by the three Community Bank® branches.

At the event, program founder and MICA paramedic, Andrew White, said the additional defibrillators may potentially save even more lives of those who suffer cardiac arrest.

"A defibrillator is the most important life saving piece of equipment any club or group can have," Mr White said.

"There are great benefits for any community that has access to automatic defibrillators for emergency situations.

"Research tells us that the MCG that has a cardiac arrest survival rate of 85 per cent, as automatic defibrillators are readily available. This is compared to a 7-10 per cent chance elsewhere in Australia where the life saving equipment is not as accessible."

Mr White formed Defib Your Club for Life in memory of 19-year-old Stephen Buckman, a young Rupertswood footballer who collapsed and died during training in May 2010.

Director, Altona, Laverton/Altona Meadows and Point Cook Community Bank® branches, Michael Boyd, said local Community Bank® branches were committed to the health and safety of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham locals.

"This is an important project for us to support, that will provide 88 defibrillator units, which have been strategically located to ensure accessibility to any member of our community in a timely manner.

The Defib locations as announced at today's launch are attached.

"Thanks to local shareholders and customers, our Community Bank® branches can support important programs like Defib Your Club for Life for the benefit of our whole community.''

"The more business that's done, the more funds can be raised for major community projects,'' he said.

For further information on the Defib Your Club for Life program go to: www.defibforlife.org.au

 

Altona area

St Mary's Primary School
Altona College P-9
7/11 Service station- Millers Road
Port Phillip Retirement Village
Walker Close Community Centre
Sarros Chemist Shop-Civic Parade Shopping strip
Sweeny Swim Centre
Altona City Soccer Club
Barnstoneworth Football Club, Williamstown Congs and St Mary's Cricket Clubs

Laverton area

Truganina South Primary School
Westbourne Grammar
St Martin De Porres School
Altona Meadows Primary School
Laverton Softball Club
Club Laverton
McDonalds (24 hour)- Sayers Road
BP Service Station- Fitzgerald Road
BP Service Station - Little Boundary Rd
Laverton Football Club
Altona Sports Centre

Point Cook area

Seabrook Primary School
Point Cook Senior Secondary College
Carranballac College P-9- Boardwalk Campus
Carranballac College P-9- Jamieson Way Emmanuel Catholic Secondary College
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School
Point Cook P-9 College
Point Cook Retirement Village
Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club
Alamanda Centre
Point Cook CFA
Point Cook Town Centre Library
Jamieson Way Community Centre

Williamstown Area

Bayside College P-12- Blenheim
Bayside College P-12- North Altona
Newport Gardens Primary School
Williamstown Primary School
Newport Lakes Primary School
Williamstown High School- Pasco St
Seagulls Nest Pub
Newport Bowls Club

A Mobile Defib unit has been also made available to community groups and events across Wyndham and Hobsons Bay communities for use on an adhoc basis.