When every second counts … the race is on to put a defibrillator in every sporting club

Key points

• An all-women mountain bike group, the Dirt Maidens, has bought a defibrillator for Stromlo Forest Park in Canberra. The group raised the money in four days after noticing the nearest device was at the Stromlo Leisure Centre, which is open only during operating hours.
• The purchase came before the StreetBeat initiative began in November. Under the scheme, sporting groups are asked to raise $3000 for a device, with GoodLoop Mutual contributing the remaining $500.
• Organisers say a defibrillator used within five minutes of cardiac arrest can raise the chance of survival to 60 per cent.