The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a major step forward in enhancing the safety of our community after organising a defibrillator training seminar at the Greek Centre, tailored specifically for the priests and the dedicated volunteers of the GCM churches.
The training was delivered by Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris and a “U-tech Medical” representative, who gave a thorough step-by-step guide and detailed approach to utilizing defibrillators in emergencies.
Among the attendees were people from the Holy Church of Annunciation of Our Lady”, “Holy Trinity” Church, “St. George” Church, Holy Church of “St. Eleftherios” and Holy Church of “St. Dimitrios”,
They were given the chance to engage in practical demonstrations, followed by a Q&A session where they could gain further knowledge on this life-saving equipment.
The training aimed to better equip key community members with the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to life-threatening situations.
In line with this direction, the GCM has invested in fitting all the GCM churches with automated external defibrillators (AED devices).
These defibrillators can be used for people who need CPR, such as someone who has had sudden cardiac arrest, and work by applying an electric shock to a patient to restart their heart or shock the heart back to its regular rhythm.
Associate Prof. Marinis Pirpiris, Treasurer of the GCM, emphasized the importance of the seminar and having members from our churches ready for any possible incident.
“Having individuals who are trained and confident in using defibrillators can make a crucial difference. We feel it is our “duty of care” to the people attending various church services and functions,” he said.
“In the next few months, it is anticipated that Melbourne shall be subject to severe heatwaves. We need to be medically prepared for our aged and people that have heart conditions.”
Dr. Myron Weisfeldt of John Hopkins University estimates that in the US alone, an analysis suggested that 1,700 additional lives have been saved each year from bystanders using the defibrillators, showing the positive impact of having these machines and people who know how to use them.
The seminar showcased the strong sense of community spirit and the proactive approach taken by the
GCM in addressing the health and safety needs of its members.
The GCM will also be organising a first-aid training session for its churches’ first-aid officers in 2024.
Anyone seeking further information on this is asked to contact their local church.
