AED machine now available at 4th Wall
New Plymouth’s 4th Wall Theatre on Baring Terrace now has an Automated External Defibrillator unit, otherwise known as an AED, on site.
The life-saving machine is on permanent loan from the theatre’s next-door neighbour, ITL, and will be available for use by the surrounding community should an emergency arise.
‘‘It’s a perfect fit because they’ve got one there for the time that they’re open in that office permanently, and then when they’re closed we’re open,’’ theatre co-owner Raewyn Greig said.
Within the next six months she and Brett Carter will live at the theatre too, which means there will be an AED machine available to residents in the area around the clock.
As yet there had been no incidents where an AED machine was needed at the theatre.
‘‘We have been in a theatre in Wellington where a gentleman had a heart attack. It was rather upsetting,’’ Carter said.
‘‘They had nothing, they just had to take him out and dial 111,’’ Greig adds. ‘‘Right in the middle of the performance he just collapsed.‘‘
On the volunteer list at 4th Wall there’s already two trained nurses. ‘‘After we run through the training everyone should be up to speed,’’ Carter said.
ITL business performance manager Pam Livingston was at a first aid course at the Red Cross a few weeks ago when the topic of AED machines in the community came up.
‘‘Your chances of survival are greatly enhanced if there’s an AED available,’’ she said.
‘‘I thought, hang on a second, we’ve actually got two sitting at work how can we utilise the second one? It’s a waste having it sitting there.
‘‘4th Wall and ITL are next to each other and have always had a very good relationship and it just came naturally that it would go to 4th Wall.’’
For every minute of delay getting an AED on someone and delivering a shock after cardiac arrest, the person’s chance of survival drops by 10 per cent. So more and more AED units are being made available for use by the public around the mountain.
People can learn where they are by downloading the AED Locations app. The nearest machine is at the medical centre in Strandon or New Plymouth Girls High School.