Heart Foundation launches 'Shockingly Simple' campaign this Shocktober to combat low confidence in using life-saving automated external defibrillators
The Heart Foundation is calling on the nation to become more familiar with life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) this Restart a Heart Day, with alarming new data revealing bystanders are hesitant to use one in an emergency.
Figures obtained from the Heart Foundation's State of the Heart Survey 2025 show 39 per cent of people in Australia reported they were "not at all confident using an AED" in the event of a cardiac arrest.
The shocking statistic comes as the Heart Foundation launches its national 'Shockingly Simple' campaign this Shocktober to help simplify the use of AEDs and empower bystanders to act with confidence in emergency situations.
Every day in Australia, one person every 15 minutes goes into sudden cardiac arrest. Around 32,000 people experience a cardiac arrest out of hospital each year and while 40 per cent have a bystander perform CPR, only 2 per cent have an AED used.1
When CPR is performed and an AED is used within the first three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest, a person's chance of survival increases up to 70 per cent.2
Key barriers stopping bystanders from stepping in
According to more than 5,000 respondents to the Heart Foundation survey, the key barriers stopping bystanders from stepping in and helping someone in the event of a cardiac arrest were they:
- "Hadn't had any CPR training" (36 per cent of respondents)
- "Don't know how to perform CPR or use an AED" (31 per cent)
- "Didn't feel confident knowing whether the patient needed CPR and an AED" (36 per cent)
- "Didn't want to be held responsible if something goes wrong" (30 per cent).
Heart Foundation Sudden Cardiac Arrest spokesperson Simon Cowie said it was alarming to hear that people were hesitant to step in and use a life-saving defibrillator and hoped the 'Shockingly Simple' campaign would encourage bystanders to act.
"Anyone can use an AED and step in and help save a life during a cardiac arrest, you don't need CPR or AED training to use one in an emergency," Mr Cowie said.
A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. We know that the combination of all three - "Call, Push, Shock"-is the only way for someone to survive a cardiac arrest. To help save a life, bystanders need to Call for an ambulance, Push the chest with chest compressions and Shock using a life-saving AED.
Simon Cowie
Sudden Cardiac Arrest spokesperson
Mr Cowie said while a cardiac arrest was a confronting situation, every second counted for someone in a cardiac arrest, and it was critical that these common misconceptions around using an AED were debunked.
"An AED will talk you through what to do in simple steps. It's a common misconception that you need to be a health professional or have specific training to use an AED but you don't-AEDs are shockingly simple to use," Mr Cowie said.
"Any resuscitation attempt is better than none. You have nothing to lose as a bystander, yet someone could lose their life if you don't step in."
From soccer mum to lifesaving 'shocker': How Anastasia saved a life
Anastasia from NSW has firsthand experience of how stepping in to help save a life and using an AED is shockingly simple. She had been waiting for her son to finish soccer training one evening when a stranger went into sudden cardiac arrest on a nearby field.
"Someone was on the phone to Triple Zero (000). I immediately kneeled and started asking him if he could hear me and if he could squeeze my hand. But it was quickly clear that he wasn't responding at all," Anastasia said.
With the Triple Zero (000) operator providing instructions, Anastasia tag-teamed CPR with another bystander. Meanwhile, another bystander had found a nearby AED.
Anastasia said although she had never used an AED before, seeing it provided an immense sense of reassurance. The AED delivered two shocks to the man, and an ambulance arrived to transport him to hospital. To this day, Anastasia doesn't know his name, but she does know that he survived.
"The moment I saw the AED, I felt the biggest sense of relief. I heard the machine's voice talk me through what I needed to do and suddenly I felt back in control," Anastasia said.
"There's no need to feel anxious or scared as the device is so self-explanatory. It will do everything for you; it just needs you to be the link to the person having a cardiac arrest."
