CFA brigades join forces with Ambulance Victoria to boost rural cardiac response

By Contributed

Nov 15, 2024

Nine CFA brigades across Victoria have been trained to respond to 000 calls where a person requires CPR. Photo by Ray Sizer

Nine CFA brigades are trained and ready to respond to select medical 000 calls as part of a new program that will officially begin on November 27.

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The new Fire Medical Response program is a joint initiative between the CFA and Ambulance Victoria that will see CFA brigades dispatched simultaneously to cardiac arrests with the nearest ambulance.

The nine brigades kicking off the program are Euroa, Tatura, Numurkah, Yarrawonga, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Bairnsdale, Huntly and Kyneton.

Euroa Brigade Captain Damon Rieusset said the decision to join the program was an easy one, and a chance to make a life-saving difference in rural and remote communities.

“We all know stories of families having to perform CPR at home on loved ones while an ambulance is on the way,” Mr Rieusset said.

“In a rural area like Euroa, it can be challenging to have an ambulance on your doorstep in minutes.

“If our crews can get there first and start providing care, that could make all the difference for someone’s survival.”

The nine brigades have been training for months with Ambulance Victoria, while a further 19 are currently enrolling in the program. By the completion of the program rollout, 50 strategically selected CFA brigades around Victoria will participate in the program.

These brigades are located across Victoria in areas that can best complement the Ambulance Victoria response where a CFA brigade may be able to reach a patient sooner.

CFA Deputy Chief Officer Garry Cook said the program was a natural fit for the CFA because of the 52,000 volunteers across the state.

“CFA has more than 1100 volunteer fire stations with more than 52,000 members,” Mr Cook said.

“This puts CFA in a unique position to complement the Ambulance Victoria response in 50 locations across Victoria to help deliver early intervention to cardiac arrests.

“What this program means is that community members who call for an ambulance may receive both a fire truck and an ambulance.”

Ambulance Victoria executive director regional operations Danielle North said Victoria’s cardiac survival rates were among the best in the world, thanks to high rates of early intervention.

“The Fire Medical Response program will improve survival rates for people in rural and regional Victoria and make access to emergency care in a cardiac arrest more equitable for all Victorians,” Ms North said.