Seville Rural Fire Brigade and The Honda Foundation Save Lives With New Defibrillator

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – May 25, 2012: The Seville Rural Fire Brigade is saving lives with a new defibrillator donated by The Honda Foundation.

Fires, search and rescue, storm damage and car accidents pervade the daily lives of the forty-five plus, brave members of the Seville Rural Fire Brigade. The brigade is comprised entirely of volunteers, with no permanent or paid members.

On the scene at every major fire that Victoria has endured, including Ash Wednesday, The Dandenong Ranges Fires, Eastern Victorian (Alpine) Fires, and Black Saturday, the Seville Rural Fire Brigade have saved the lives of many Victorians. They tend to an average of 120 incidents per year, from house fires to road accidents.

“The medical equipment we’ve donated will contribute to the countless lives saved each year by the Seville Rural Fire Brigade,” said Lindsay Smalley, Chairman of The Honda Foundation.

Relying on community funding and the generosity of trusts like The Honda Foundation, the Seville Rural Fire Brigade has grown from a one-vehicle operation to a fleet of two tankers, a salvage and a slip on unit. The Honda Foundation’s recent donation of a defibrillator - a device used to send electric energy to the hearts of those suffering cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, will help in their mission to save lives again this summer.

The official re-opening of the Seville Rural Fire Brigade took place on Sunday May 6, with extensions to the building, allowing further housing for the brigade’s trucks.

At the open day, Captain David Clark said; “We wouldn’t be where we are today, with state of the art equipment, without the support of foundations like the Honda Foundation.”

The Honda Foundation aims to provide assistance to local communities and foster goodwill among Honda Australia, Honda Motor Vehicle Dealers and the public. It draws funding from Honda Dealers and Honda Australia who donate $15 ($5 and $10 respectively) for every Honda car sold.