Travelling out to the western regions has been made a little safer with the installation of defibrillators on all NSW Trainlink coaches.

Almost five years ago, in June 2019, research found 77 per cent of people in NSW wanted Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) to be made mandatory on public transport.

At the time, St John Ambulance National CEO, Len Fiori, says having access to a quality defibrillator on public transport and first aid-trained employees and drivers is the best way to ensure employees and passengers are safe in the event of a workplace emergency.

“People often say they are reluctant to administer CPR on someone, but it is those first few minutes after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest that can be the difference between life and death,” Mr Fiori said at the time. “AEDs are a vital piece of emergency First Aid equipment and the only definitive First Aid treatment for cardiac arrest."

For every minute without CPR, the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest go down by 10 percent.

Perhaps heeding this call, the NSW Government held a trial in 2023 and has since completed a full roll out of AED's on 143 TrainLink statewide routes, including those in the Western Plains.

It's particularly good news in remote areas where mobile service issues can mean long emergency response times.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jenny Aitchison said the initiative could save countless lives and provided peace of mind in areas that may be far from medical attention.

“About 30,000 people in Australia have a sudden cardiac arrest each year and only one in 10 survive," she said. “We know using a defibrillator can improve a person’s chance of survival by up to 70 per cent and having these devices on NSW TrainLink coaches means passengers experiencing a cardiac arrest on board can now be treated quickly.

Current CEO of St John Ambulance NSW, Dominic Teakle said he was excited to see this new development where commuters can feel safer while travelling.

“St John Ambulance NSW is delighted to see this program expand, particularly into those regional and remote routes where medical help can often be further away.

“We know more lives can be saved by improving public access to AEDs in our communities and making sure people feel empowered to use one in an emergency.”

To ensure easy and accessible use, the defibrillators on NSW TrainLink coaches can be used safely by anyone without the need for any prior training.