Baseball Queensland (BQ) is committed to improving the health and safety of its community and is excited to announce a new initiative to equip all clubs with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). This decision follows a comprehensive review and a health and safety survey conducted earlier this year.
Andrea Marshall, Director at Baseball Queensland and Professor at the Griffith School of Nursing and Midwifery, highlighted the importance of having AEDs available at club venues. She advised the BQ Board that “cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death for people under the age of 50 in Australia. For those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting, the survival rate is less than 1 in 10. However, when effective CPR and defibrillation are administered within 3-5 minutes, survival rates can soar from 6% to 74%.”
Professor Marshall went on to identify “An AED is portable and simple to use, even for individuals without medical training. The device delivers an electric shock to the heart via two pads, helping to ‘restart’ the heart’s normal electrical activity. CPR, on the other hand, helps maintain blood and oxygen flow, limiting damage to vital organs.”
To ensure every club has access to this life-saving technology, the Baseball Queensland Board of Management has resolved to provide AEDs free of charge to clubs that currently do not have one. The chosen model requires minimal maintenance and comes with an eight-year warranty. Clubs that already have an AED will receive a $1,000 voucher for use at First Aid Kits Australia, which can be used for purchasing first aid supplies or providing first aid and resuscitation training for volunteers.
Baseball Queensland makes this considerable investment in the expectation that all clubs will maintain these AEDs and ensure they are available at their venues at all times. This initiative is a critical step toward protecting the health and safety of everyone involved in the Queensland baseball community. This significant reinvestment into the community is made possible by the ongoing support of the community for Baseball Queensland programs and competitions.
Delivery of these devices and vouchers will commence in the coming weeks.
The Australian Resuscitation Council have produced this short video to provide insight to the ease of use of the AED devices.