Community
22 November, 2024
First donation for Appeal
SOUTH West Healthcare has this week launched a community appeal to purchase its first-ever assisted CPR machine.
The $34,000 machine, regarded as a sophisticated piece of technology, provides CPR in prolonged resuscitation which will allow the health service’s ‘Code Blue’ teams to concentrate on other procedures essential to saving the lives of sudden cardiac arrest patients.
According to emergency department nurse unit manager Jessica Brereton, this vital piece of equipment will be a welcome addition to resources at the Warrnambool hospital.
“Without this machine our staff are performing CPR for sometimes quite lengthy period of times and that can be quite exhausting, both physically and mentally,” Ms Brereton said.
“This new CPR machine is a mechanical chest compression device which will help deliver high quality, guidelines-consistent chest compressions.
“It will also be portable, and can be carried like a backpack, which means it can be taken by our team to all areas of the hospital when needed, and even across the road to the cancer centre.”
The community appeal got off to a great start this week thanks to a $1750 donation from the Inner Wheel Club of Warrnambool.
Club members Beth Welsford, Julie Hayden and Marg Hudson said the group was thrilled to be able to contribute towards the appeal.
“We have raised this money through various channels, including a special film night, wrapping Christmas presents, holding barbecues and open garden parties,” they said.
“Our donation is made in memory of Kaye Sheppard, a former club member and inaugural president who is fondly remembered by us all.
“South West Healthcare provides such a vital service for us all, not just in our local community but across the entire district and it’s important that we do what we can to support them.
“We have about 15 active members in our club but we are always happy to welcome new faces.”
South West Healthcare is hoping to raise the funds for the machine within the next five weeks and welcomes contributions big and small.
“The community has always rallied and supported our appeals so we’re confident we can raise the money needed for this machine,” South West Healthcare’s community partnerships manager Suzan Morey said.
