The ACT Government has supported the ACT Ambulance Service to introduce eight new Mechanical Chest Compression Devices across the Territory to support the treatment of patients experiencing cardiac arrest.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Marisa Paterson, welcomed the introduction of the life-saving devices.
“The introduction of these devices supports our paramedics by providing safe and consistent CPR when manual compressions are difficult, including during transport to hospital. ACT Ambulance Service paramedics continue to provide comprehensive care that no device can replace,” she said.
“The introduction of these devices in the ACT is a valuable enhancement to our current capabilities and demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting the community in times of need.”
Since early February, the ACT Ambulance Service has worked closely with colleagues at Canberra Health Services to deliver service-wide training to support the safe introduction and use of the devices within the service.
“Our paramedics have received extensive training in the use of these devices and remain fully responsible for when and how they are applied. No machine can replace experience or clinical judgement, but this technology enhances the high-quality care our paramedics already provide,” said ACT Ambulance Service Chief Officer, David Dutton.
“For some people, these devices may look confronting if they are unfamiliar. While they may appear forceful, they deliver controlled compressions to support effective, life-saving CPR.”
The Government said the deployment of these devices within the ACT aligns with contemporary approaches to out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrest management. Similar devices are already in use across other Australian ambulance services, including NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and the Northern Territory.
