I was most interested to read your good news story about a defibrillator saving a man’s life last week in Mullumbimby. It got me thinking. Do defibs have easy-to-follow instructions or do you have to be a paramedic to use it? Is there a free, short training course for the general public? If not, who do you turn to in an emergency? I guess anyone who is present and willing. And does it usually take around 25-30 minutes for an ambulance to arrive in Mullumbimby? Being a baby boomer that worries me.
It is great that you listed where defibs can be found around Mullumbimby. I knew about the one outside the newsagent but I was wondering if there were others. It certainly helped that someone knew to find one at Towers Carpets. I have since done some research and have discovered a web application called Defib Finder which would be worth having on your phone. By entering your location and postcode you can easily locate the nearest one.
You can buy a home defibrillator for $1,695 (half price at the moment). That might seem like a bit but if it saves your or someone else’s life, then it is invaluable. People who don’t live near town should consider buying one or maybe even share the expense and the machine.
I’m so glad defibrillators are being made readily available to all and that many lives will be saved by these wonderful machines.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
