Jess Liddy, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Grayson Patterson, of Wallaroo, is lucky to be alive.

The 2-year-old went into cardiac arrest in June, after a barbecue smoker fell on him.

If it wasn’t for the GoodSAM app, and the quick response from an off-duty ambulance officer to deliver life-saving compressions and care, the outcome could have been a lot different.

Within seconds of a Triple Zero (000) call, the GoodSAM app notifies registered responders of a person in cardiac arrest.

The responder can accept the call for help and head to the scene to provide emergency care while an ambulance is on the way.

Mum Ashleigh Garrad said Grayson was playing outside and because she hadn’t seen him for a couple of minutes, her sister went looking for him.

She found him unconscious and turning blue as he was trapped under a barbecue smoker.

“I stayed with Grayson while my sister called Triple Zero — we took it in turns attempting what little we knew about CPR,” Ms Garrad said.

“I honestly thought he was dead at this point and I had lost my little boy.

“I didn’t think the ambulance would make it in time and my sister ran next door to get a neighbour to help but we were still unsuccessful.”

Off-duty paramedic Robert Davis then arrived, to Ms Garrad’s surprise.

“I thought maybe they were just driving by and heard the commotion, and I was quite distraught and screaming at this point,” she said.

“Off-duty ambulance officer, Rob, came in and just took over the situation — he moved Grayson to a better position and took over doing CPR.”

At the time, Ms Garrard had no idea what the app was but said she was grateful now for the initiative.

“I 100 per cent think the outcome would have been different if it weren’t for the app — it is part of why my son is here today,” she said.

“I will forever be grateful for the app and Rob who came to our aid that day.

“I would encourage anyone with the capability and knowledge to sign up to this app because you never know what may happen around the corner.

“Grayson is back to himself, you would never know we nearly lost him a few months ago — he is definitely our little miracle boy.”

South Australians with first aid training can now sign up to receive smartphone notifications about cardiac emergencies near them, with the state’s ambulance service expanding the GoodSAM system to help save even more lives.

Expanding the service to boost responder numbers

The expansion of GoodSAM to allow members of the public with first-aid training to sign up will further boost responder numbers and the chances of survival when cardiac arrests occur in the community.

The app doesn’t alter SA Ambulance Service response times, as cardiac events are the highest priority, SAAS executive director critical operational services Kate Clarke said.

Ms Clarke said GoodSAM was improving the chances of early intervention when cardiac arrests occurred in the community and was helping save lives in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrived.

“We are now accepting registrations from the public with first aid training,” she said.

“After they register, their details will be subject to verification before they are approved as GoodSAM responders.”

“GoodSAM responders will only be alerted to suspected cardiac arrest cases and their role is to provide CPR while ambulances are on the way, along with defibrillation if an automated external defibrillator is available.” 

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 24 October 2023.