August Theme: Membership & Extension Month
Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster:
12/8/18 – 18/8/18 Judy Greer, 19/8/18 – 25/8/18 Marion & Bill Walton, 26/8/18 – 1/9/18 Janet Alexander, 2/9/18 – 8/9/18 Coral Barker, 9/9/18 – 15/9/18 Geoff Ford
Visitors: Anne Holland, Rotary Club of Brighton, Guest Speaker; Frank and Pam Sultana
President’s Report:
Board meeting was held yesterday. The resignation of Tibor Janos was received with regret. Marion Walton suggested that the club could consider providing drought aid by helping a business in a small affected town. One possibility was to have a hairdresser’s day whereby people could come in for some pampering / hair cut to be paid by our Club. A town such as Narromine near Dubbo was a possibility. This will be followed up and she will report back.
Reports:
International: Rod Greer reported on a project ‘Slides for Sri Lanka’ involving the movement of playground equipment to needy schools and communities in that country. The City of Greater Geelong is enthusiastic and playgrounds at Kingston Park and Lakeside Drive are scheduled for replacement next year, but there are potentially 40 odd playgrounds, which could be sourced. We would need to dismantle and collect the materials, and Rod Bush has developed a program to record everything utilized. It would then need to be shipped to Sri Lanka before resurrection. He will keep the Club updated with progress.
Treasurer: Noel Emselle says ‘pay up outstanding subs or be named!’
Market: Adrian Schmidt reported that 40 sites have already been booked for the first market in October.
Fundraising: Peter Cullen reported that most of the spots for manning gates at the Geelong and District Football League finals are filled. He still needs three or four vacant.
Footy Tipping: Alex McGee reported that with two rounds to go, four people are leading on the same points: Coog, (aka) President Graeme, Bill Walton, Geoff Ford, Geoff Chandler but Alison George is only one point behind them. Adrian Schmidt won last week.
Guest Speakers:
Frank Sultana reported on his experiences surviving a Sudden Cardiac Arrest and his revival using a defibrillator. He was playing tennis March this year and just served in the second set. Next he knew he woke up in Geelong Hospital. One of his teammates, a male nurse, had applied CPR and used a Defibrillator located in the clubrooms. He had collapsed on court and been taken to hospital in an ambulance. After five days in hospital, he had had an internal defibrillator implanted. This was followed by eight weeks rehabilitation. After five months, he will be able to drive and play tennis again.
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| Anne Holland Demonstrates the Defibrillator |
Anne Holland supports the not for profit charity, Urban Lifesavers, which educates the general public on the use of defibrillators. She was also a coronary care nurse, and has written a book, back in a Heart Beat, available at www.defibfirst.com.au. Anne is the mother of five children, including four boys. She started Urban Lifesavers in memory of her husband, Paul, who died of a heart attack.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when someone unexpectedly collapses, is unconscious, unresponsive, and experiences obvious colour change and not breathing. It is the leading cause of death in the developed world, accounting for 31% of deaths in Australia and is the most common cause for women. Always call 000 first. They can stay on the line to help. Ambulances generally take 10 to 12 minutes to arrive, by which time it is often too late. Thus, victims rely on by-standers’ quick action to survive. The earlier they can be got back into a normal heart beat rate, the better their chances of survival without brain damage. With a defibrillator, 80% have a chance of survival, without one it is only 5%.
Young people suffer Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, which affects those aged between 12 and 15 during exercise. SCA affects the whole population, male, female, young or old. It always results in death if not treated by defibrillation and CPR. It is not the same as a heart attack; these have warning signs while SCA does not. A heart attack is a blockage in an artery. It can lead to cardiac arrest, but not necessarily. It is possible to survive a heart attack without immediate treatment but not SCA. SCA occurs when the pumping action of the heart is disrupted, causing arrhythmic beating.
Members of the public who administer first aid cannot be held liable. Law protects this. If a person cannot breathe, they will go into cardiac arrest. Ambulance Victoria has a database of the locations of defibrillators. Defibrillators will detect if the heart is arrhythmic and advise whether to administer a shock or not. Anne Holland demonstrated how a defibrillator works, and how it gives clear instructions to help you use it.
John Calnin mentioned that the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove has a program currently reviewing the location of defibrillators through our area and is sending the updated information to Ambulance Victoria.
Thank you,
Ann Hodgkinson
