Coles unveils drastic new change coming to over 800 of its supermarkets in a bid to tackle deadly disease killing one Australian every 12 minutes
- Coles will be rolling out Automated External Defibrillators to all of their stores
- They've partnered with Heart Foundation to raise awareness about heart disease
- 18,000 Australians die of heart disease each year with a death every 12 minutes
Coles will be rolling out Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to all of their stores across Australia over the next month in a bid to tackle fatal heart attacks.
The supermarket giant has partnered with the Heart Foundation to encourage its 21 million weekly customers to look after their hearts.
More than 18,000 people die each year of heart disease making it Australia's biggest killer.
Coles will be rolling out Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to all of their stores across Australia over the next month (stock image)
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An AED is a portable device that is used to treat people having cardiac arrests through defibrillation.
The life-saving devices send an electrical current to the body which stops the heart from beating irregularly and allows it to re-establish an effective rhythm.
Coles Director of Safety, David Brewster, said a minimum of five team members at every store are trained in first aid and can provide medical support to employees and customers suffering from cardiac arrest.
'By having defibrillators available for our customers and team members, we will be even more able to provide help that has been shown to increase the chances of survival for people who suffer a sudden cardiac arrest,' Mr Brewster said.
'All our first aid team members will be trained in the use of the AED, and we have chosen an easy-to-use device that includes audio and visual instructions so that just about anyone can use it in the case of an emergency.'
The defibrillation applies an electrical current to the body which stops the heart from beating irregularly and allows it to re-establish an effective rhythm (pictured, Grant Fraser, cardiac arrest survivor)
Melbourne cardiac arrest survivor, Grant Fraser, 57, said the heart attack that nearly killed him was unforeseeable and if it wasn't for a defibrillator, he would have died.
'Even after I knew I was having a heart attack I did not think that my heart would effectively stop for three minutes. I was dead,' Mr Fraser said.
'If I had not had access to the defibrillator in the Emergency Department of the Ballarat Hospital I would not have recovered.'
Queensland mother, Angela Lewis, 40, also suffered a cardiac arrest the the Coles Forest Lake distribution centre in January this year.
She required emergency defibrillation and thanked the Coles team for saving her life and giving her the chance to see her six-year-old son, Rogan, grow up.
'I was incredibly fortunate enough to be given CPR by some amazing Coles team members which in conjunction with the use of the onsite defibrillator saved my life,' Ms Lewis said.
'Coles' commitment to installing defibrillators in all their stores is absolutely amazing. It is gives people like me a chance to see my son grow up, graduate school and live his life.
'Without the actions of an incredible group of people, and the defibrillator I wouldn't have this opportunity. I owe them my life.'
The supermarket giant has partnered with the Heart Foundation to encourage its 21 million weekly customers to look after their hearts (pictured, Angela Lewis, who suffered cardiac arrest at Coles Forest Lake in Queensland)
Over the next few months, Coles will be promoting the Heart Foundation's message through social media and by directly contacting their flybuys members.
This initiative is designed to encourage more Australians to have a Health Heart Check with their doctor.
The Heart Foundation's Group CEO, Adjunct Professor John Kelly, congratulated Coles for ensuring customers are provided with medical support in their supermarkets if needed.
'Coles will make AEDs more accessible so they can be deployed quickly in an emergency, which will save lives,' Professor Kelly said.
'AEDs are critical to saving lives as every second and minute counts when a person is having a cardiac arrest.
Heart disease is responsible for one death every 12 minutes in Australia, according to the Heart Foundation, and over 400,000 Australians have had a heart attack at some point in their lives
Heart disease is responsible for one death every 12 minutes in Australia, according to the Heart Foundation.
It is estimated over 400,000 Australians have had a heart attack at some point in their lives.
Despite improvements over the last decade, heart disease is still the country's biggest killer and the medical costs associated is one of the biggest burdens on the economy.
