Throughout October, a month-long campaign named ‘Shocktober’ highlights the vital importance of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Australia, striking about 30,000 Australians every year. Thousands of Australian families lose someone they love to cardiac arrest every year because lifesaving equipment is not available.

Shocktober is aimed at creating awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, AED locations, and the crucial part defibrillators and CPR play in increasing sudden cardiac arrest survival.

Gather your friends and family – here are some fun and rewarding things you can do with St John Ambulance Victoria throughout Shocktober 2023:

St John Community Giveaway - Competition Closed

Learn CPR in Minutes with CPR LAB

CPR Lab is travelling around Victoria this October teaching Victorians how to perform CPR in just 10 minutes*.  CPR Lab is a mobile learning bus that helps you learn the lifesaving technique by providing real-time feedback as you practice on a manikin. You even get to compete with others to see how well you can do CPR!

*Non-accredited

You can catch CPR LAB at the following events in October.

• Thursday 5 October 2023 to Sunday 8 October 2023 -  Swan Hill District Agricultural & Pastoral Society Show: Swan Hill Showgrounds (106 McCallum Street, SWAN HILL)
• Saturday, 7 October 2023 - Be Bold Festival: Bowery Theatre and St Albans Community Centre (33 Princess Street, ST ALBANS)