Lifesavers aim to be first

Secret Harbour surf lifesavers and St John Ambulance have joined forces to help improve survival rates for those who suffer a heart attack while at the beach.

The surf lifesaving club has formed a partnership with St John to undertake a beach-based trial in its First Responder program.

The trial will increase the number of trained ‘‘first responders’’ with automated external defibrillators available to be quickly on the scene, which could save lives while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

The trial will run at Secret Harbour beach until the end of April.

St John chief executive officer Tony Ahern said cardiac arrest killed about 30,000 Australians a year.

Mr Ahern said the first eight to 10 minutes was crucial to a person’s survival rate after cardiac arrest.

With every minute of delay, the risk of death increases by 10 per cent, so a fast response was vital.