A friendly connection between Jon Snead and ironman Guy Leach has lead to an agreement to have The Agency roll out automated external defibrillators (AEDs) nationally, starting with Sydney with staff being trained on the life-saving equipment.
“I’ve known Guy for many years through paddling, we’ve trained together over the past eight years. It was two years ago when we lost a member of our training group Charles ‘Chucky’ Stuart to cardiac arrest, he was a life-long friend of Guy’s,” Jon Snead explains. “It was this shocking event that hit home to us all and Guy launched into a campaign to get defibrillators into every available place that he could,” says Jon.
“When you understand the statistics on how many people have cardiac arrests, approximately 600 people every week, adults and children, you are literally wasting lives through cardiac arrest,” Leach says. “If there was a defibrillator close by, there is a 70 per cent chance of survival.
The machines feature highly advanced technology and are straight-forward to use. The user receives clear verbal instructions throughout the process and the AED will only shock the patient if the vital signs indicate a cardiac arrest.
“The Agency is committed to providing staff, clients and our local communities with a safe and supportive environment,” said Matt Lahood. “An example of this is our flagship office in Bondi Beach, we purposefully designed a 10-metre concrete hot desk where agents from across the business, clients and locals are all welcome to plug in, enjoy a coffee and the view.
“With our ‘open door’ policy we are mindful of the responsibility that comes with that.”
“As a community-focused business and with our rapid growth nationally, we have the opportunity to lead the way in getting these life-saving devices into the community, as well as raising awareness of heart health,” says Snead.
