Media release: Tuesday 6 October 2026
Shockingly Simple: Anyone can ‘Call, Push, Shock’ to help save a life
More lives in Australia could be saved if bystanders had the confidence to act during a cardiac arrest, early findings from a new pilot program have found.
The results come as the Heart Foundation today launches its Shockingly Simple campaign during Shocktober to urge people to act when someone suffers a cardiac arrest to increase their chance of survival.
Every year, more than 32,000 people in Australia suffer a cardiac arrest out-of-hospital, yet only around one in 10 survive. When cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is started and an automated external defibrillator (AED) is used within the first three to five minutes, cardiac arrest survival rates can increase by up to 70 per cent.
A Heart Foundation pilot program delivered across four local government areas in New South Wales earlier this year found participants’ confidence to perform CPR and use an AED quadrupled after completing the program.
Simon Cowie, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Manager at the Heart Foundation, said while people did not need formal training to step in and help save a life, the Shockingly Simple CPR and AED awareness pilot showed even simple education can help people recognise a cardiac arrest and act quickly.
Among the pilot program’s 274 participants:
- Almost 80 per cent could correctly identify the signs of cardiac arrest after training, compared with none beforehand.
- Confidence to perform CPR increased from 22 per cent to 88 per cent following session attendance.
- Confidence to use an AED increased from 17 per cent to 89 per cent.
Each volunteer-led session focused on how to recognise a cardiac arrest and how to respond with ‘Call, Push, Shock’: Call Triple Zero (000) immediately, Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest and Shock with an AED.
Mr Cowie said bystander use of an AED could double a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest, yet fewer than 40 per cent of people who suffer a cardiac arrest receive CPR from a bystander and AEDs are used in only about 2 per cent of cardiac arrests.
“Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time. Calling Triple Zero (000), starting CPR and using an AED can give someone their best chance of survival,” Mr Cowie said.
“Our pilot program suggests more lives could be saved if more people felt confident to help. Remember, you don’t need formal training to act, because any attempt is better than none. Simply ‘Call, Push, Shock’.”
Mr Cowie said with support and investment, the Heart Foundation could seek to roll out the Shockingly Simple CPR and AED awareness sessions and improve cardiac survival rates nationally.
