Local paramedic Matt Meade has started holding CPR and first aid workshops.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Victorian paramedic Matt Meade has been on the scene at many cardiac arrests, but one in particular stands out.
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A member of the public had stepped in, performing CPR while paramedics arrived.
“He had a really good outcome and was able to leave hospital a couple of weeks later and go back home,” Mr Meade said.
The experience reinforced his determination to help more people feel confident acting while emergency services are on their way.
“I can probably count on my hand how many times I’ve seen a cardiac arrest patient survive, and every time that’s been because someone has done CPR early on scene, got the AED on them before we’ve been able to arrive,” he said.
After 10 years in healthcare and five years as a paramedic, Mr Meade is now teaching others how to respond to emergencies through his new business, First Line Training Co.
He runs CPR and first aid workshops in Shepparton, Echuca, Bendigo and surrounding regional communities, bringing a mobile training set-up to schools, workplaces, sporting groups and community organisations.
“I’m trying to build confidence and actual skills that make a difference,” he said.
“So if they are in an emergency, you can act on it and not be scared.”
First Line Training Co owner Matt Maude hopes his workshops will help more people step in when it matters most.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The workshops focus on practical, hands-on learning, drawing on Mr Meade’s real-world experience as a paramedic.
“You can't freeze … you need to be able to act,” he said.
“A bit of muscle memory comes into it when things are going a million miles an hour during an emergency.”
It’s a skill Mr Meade doesn’t take for granted, having experienced the fear of not knowing what to do before becoming a paramedic.
“I actually witnessed a car accident firsthand when I was younger,” he said.
“I just wanted to do something.”
That moment led him to study paramedicine, and the same drive eventually led him to start his business a couple of months ago.
Mr Meade said he was already looking to bring his training sessions to more people, with plans to eventually hold free community sessions across the region.
“Hopefully you don’t need to use it, but it’s always really important to know,” he said.
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