News

Learn CPR this Shocktober

By Lua Ikenasio

Oct 1, 2025

Ambulance Victoria are urging locals to take part in Shocktober. Photo: Befeker Kebede

With more cardiac arrests in Victoria than ever before, Ambulance Victoria is encouraging Goulburn Valley residents to learn or refresh their CPR skills.

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This October marks the sixth year of AV’s statewide Shocktober campaign aimed at improving cardiac arrest survival rates.

Victoria currently has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia and the third-best anywhere in the world.

AV Loddon Mallee regional director Matt McCrohan encouraged locals to learn how to use an automated external defibrillator, know the location of the closest defibrillator and to learn CPR.

“Shocktober is about giving Victorians who have a cardiac arrest a better chance of returning to their loved ones,” he said.

“Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, any time, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level, and often without symptoms.

“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to call (000), push (perform CPR) and shock (use an AED).”

Last year, AV paramedics and first responders were called to 7545 cardiac arrest patients.

Every day, around 21 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest but only one in 10 survive and for every minute CPR is delayed, survival decreases by 10 per cent.

Mr McCrohan also encouraged locals to join more than 17,300 other responders in becoming a GoodSAM responder.

The GoodSAM app connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who can start hands-only CPR while paramedics are on their way.

As part of Shocktober, AV will run Call, Push, Shock sessions in Mooroopna, Echuca, Stanhope and Elmore.