The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organizing a defibrillator training seminar at the Greek Centre, specifically tailored for the priests of GCM churches and their dedicated volunteers.

The training brought together priests from the Holy Church of “Annunciation of Our Lady”, “Holy Trinity” Church, “St. George” Church, Holy Church of “St. Eleftherios”, and Holy Church of “St. Dimitrios”, along with their devoted contributors. Among the attendees were Fr Antonios Vanikiotis (The Annunciation of Our Lady), Fr Harris Vezos (St. George), Rev Diamantis Kourabis (St. Dimitrios), Fr Gary Peripetsakis (St. Eleftherios), and Fr Nikolaos Xylouris (Holy Trinity), as well as church committee members and volunteers.

The seminar was conducted Enzo from U-Tech Medical and featured a comprehensive step-by-step guide on utilizing defibrillators in emergency situations. The aim was to equip key community members with the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to life-threatening situations.

The GCM has invested in fitting all GCM churches with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). These devices can be used in conjunction with CPR on individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, delivering an electric shock to restart the heart or restore its regular rhythm. Studies, including those by Dr. Myron Weisfeldt of Johns Hopkins University, suggest that bystander use of defibrillators in the US alone has saved approximately 1,700 additional lives each year.

Nick Koukouvitakis, representing the GCM church committee, and Michael Profyris, church coordinator, expressed their appreciation for the proactive approach, while attendees engaged in practical demonstrations followed by a Q&A session, further enhancing their understanding of this life-saving equipment.

The seminar showcased the strong sense of community spirit and the proactive measures taken by the GCM in addressing the health and safety needs of its members.

For further information, please contact your local church.