RAC has donated $100,000 in financial support to Western Australia’s State Emergency Service (SES) units to help them purchase life-saving equipment.
RAC Executive General Manager Advocacy and Members, Patrick Walker, said the financial contribution will be used to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for SES units through the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
“Protecting and saving lives requires important medical equipment such as defibrillators to be readily available and we’re proud to help make that possible,” Mr Walker said.
“We’re thrilled to support the inspiring efforts of around 2,000 volunteers from more than 65 SES units across WA, all of whom work tirelessly to care for their communities.
“RAC has been part of Western Australia for more than 110 years and we remain focussed on initiatives that help make a real difference to our members and the community.”
The AED units will be issued to WA’s State Emergency Service units in both metropolitan and regional locations throughout WA.
This will include seven units which currently do not have access to the equipment, including Esperance, Northam, Port Hedland, Toodyay, Wagin, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and WA’s newest SES unit, Two Rocks.
The SES Volunteers Association President Gordon Hall said RAC’s generous donation is greatly appreciated.
“Over the last year, SES volunteers responded to nearly 600 incidents including storms, cyclones, floods, land searches and vertical rescues,” Mr Hall said.
“When responding to these incidents, we never know when a medical emergency may occur, and this much needed technology will really help support our members and the community.”
Each year more than 30,000 Australians suffer from sudden cardiac arrest of which only 5 per cent survive.
However, patients who receive early CPR and defibrillation with a locally available AED survive at approximately five times the rate of those who have access to neither.
RAC’s donation was provided as part of this week’s Wear Orange Wednesday – a national day of recognition and appreciation for SES volunteers who play a vital role in keeping our community safe during natural disasters and emergencies.
This financial commitment builds on RAC’s already strong relationship with DFES over a number of years.
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Media contact: Steph Gavlak 0401 703 719
