A Wollongong paramedic is among the supporters of an online petition that calls for defibrillators and CPR training to be mandatory in all NSW public schools.
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More than 50,000 people have signed the petition on change.org which was initiated by Channel Seven health editor Dr Andrew Rochford and University of Sydney cardiologist Professor Chris Semsarian.
Prof Semsarian said that despite lifesaving defibrillators being available in some of the state's private schools - and at public schools in other states - the NSW government did not support their use on public school grounds.
"Up to four young Australians die every week from sudden cardiac death," he said.
"When somebody has a cardiac arrest, critical to their survival is early CPR and early defibrillation.
"Every minute that goes past the chance of survival falls by about 15 per cent. By four minutes there is brain damage, by eight minutes if there's no defibrillation, there's no chance of survival."
Prof Semsarian said there was a need for education and awareness about cardiac arrest, as well as mandatory equipment and training in all Australian schools.
"People think heart disease affects the elderly, an overweight person who smokes and has high blood pressure and cholesterol, but what we know is that young, apparently fit and healthy people, can also die suddenly," he said.
"We teach our children how to swim, we teach them how to use fire extinguishers, why shouldn't we teach them how to save someone's life?"
Wollongong paramedic Mark McCarthy launched a campaign in 2013 to get defibrillators installed in public places.
His company, Wollongong First Aid, has set up an automated external defibrillator outside Wollongong's Novotel Northbeach. "Defibrillators should be everywhere," he said.
"The latest figures available from NSW Health show that in 2012, for the age group five to 16 years, there were 16 presentations to the state's emergency departments for cardiac arrest.
"In that same year, 64 calls were made to the NSW Ambulance Service from educational facilities for suspected cardiac or respiratory arrest.
"Even in the event that a child's heart isn't in a shockable rhythm, the defibrillator will still coach the user through effective CPR techniques."
Mr McCarthy said his company had installed defibrillators at public schools in the state, including a school in Wollongong.
"We are also set to install one at a primary school in Campbelltown after a parent attending the school went into cardiac arrest late last term," he said. "Teachers applied CPR and the person survived, but now the school is keen to have a defibrillator available."
A spokesman for NSW Premier Mike Baird said the government would give the proposal to install devices at all public schools a "thorough assessment".
lwachsmuth@fairfaxmedia.com.au