We’re now part of the St John First Responder community

November 21, 2019

Foundation Housing has installed lifesaving cardiac Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in 12 of its buildings in the Perth metro area, as well as at its premises in Fremantle and South Hedland.

The AEDs are in keypad-locked cabinets on the external walls of offices and lodging houses where they are accessible to Foundation Housing residents and staff, as well as the public.   The code to unlock each cabinet is provided via a triple zero (000) call.

Foundation Housing was able to purchase the defibrillators at a highly subsidized rate thanks to a St John Heart Grant funded by Lotterywest.

The location of the newly installed AEDs will be added to St John’s Community First Responder program which aims to let bystanders to cardiac incidents know where they can retrieve the closest lifesaving device from in an emergency.   Studies have shown that when defibrillation is administered within five minutes of a cardiac event there is a dramatic improvement in survival rates.  The locations are also available via the St John First Responder App

Foundation Housing CEO Chris Smith said installing the devices provided additional peace of mind to the staff and residents who live and work in the buildings and that it also directly supported the organisation’s purpose of enriching lives and communities by making more AEDs accessible to the public.

“I’m pleased we’ve been able to support the expansion of the Community First Responder program and, while I hope the AEDs do not need to be used, I am glad the devices will be close at hand for residents and our staff and of course members of the public passing by our premises.”

The AEDs are being installed on the external walls of our properties in Northbridge Aberdeen Street, Northbridge Newcastle Street,  East Perth, Subiaco, Leederville Oxford Street, Leederville Vincent Street, Mt Lawley, Bassendean and also in South Hedland.

One of the newly installed AEDs in place on Oxford Street in Leederville.