Ten LJ Hooker real estate offices on the NSW South Coast have been fitted with lifesaving medical equipment in a bid to reduce the number of Australians that die from the nation’s biggest killer each year – sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Proving that real estate really isn’t just about selling and managing properties, but about community and people, the offices at Nowra, Vincentia, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Malua Bay, Tuross Head, Moruya and Narooma have been fitted with defibrillators.
It follows the installation of the life-saving equipment, worth $1500 each, at the network’s Palm Beach and Mona Vale offices.
LJ Hooker network performance manager Angela Avgerinos said more LJ Hooker agencies across NSW would soon follow the South Coast region’s lead.
“We would like our offices to offer something back to their communities and being able to access a defibrillator is important,” she said.
Each agency will be trained in CPR as well as using the defibrillators, which will be accessible during business hours.
Agents will also take them to on-site auctions.
In Australia about 30,000 people suffer a sudden cardiac arrest each year, with just six per cent surviving because a defibrillator is not easily accessible.
Medical research shows that survival rate increases to about 70 per cent if a patient can be defibrillated within three minutes of suffering a SCA.
LJ Hooker has partnered with Heart180, an organisation that aims to have defibrillators within 180 seconds of anyone who suffers a SCA.
Heart180 was founded by former Australian ironman Guy Leech in 2016 after close friend Charles ‘Chucky’ Stewart died after suffering a heart attack during one of Leech’s paddling classes at Manly Cove.
Leech did CPR on his friend but it wasn’t until an ambulance arrived about 10 minutes later that a defibrillator could be used. Mr Stewart died six days later in hospital.
Wishing he had a defibrillator in his car, or one easily accessible in a nearby cafe or shop, Leech decided to take action and set up Heart180.
“We have saved more than 30 lives since we have started and some of those survivors have also come on board and become involved in what we are doing in getting defibrillators out there,” Leech said.
LJ Hooker South Coasts staff will be given ongoing training so they are always ready to help in an emergency.
An app will be launched next year to tell the public where to access the closest defibrillator.
Leech praised LJ Hooker for being ready to save lives.
“Usually businesses come on board because something has happened in the office with someone having a heart incident and they realise there is a need for a defibrillator – but LJ Hooker has taken a very pro-active approach,” Leech said.
“It is a great example of a company who is getting on the front foot and doing something about it. You don’t want to have someone have a heart incident and think, ‘You know we could have done better’.”
