Photo: Wayne Taylor

Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino and Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy visited the Frankston Fire Station to launch EMR services at Frankston, Patterson River, Rosebud, Pakenham and Traralgon.

The number of Victorians suffering heart attacks increased to a ten-year high last year, putting greater pressure on Ambulance Victoria and emergency response times.

From today, firefighters at the five new EMR capable fire stations will be dispatched to respond to triple zero calls for heart attack and non-breathing patients at the same time as paramedics.

CFA and Ambulance Victoria trialled the program in 2011 and found it significantly improved response times and helped increase survival rates of heart attack patients.

Each EMR capable fire station has been upgraded with emergency medical response equipment and defibrillators have been installed in the fire trucks.

All operational firefighters at EMR capable stations have received specialist training to provide basic life support and give CPR.

The Andrews Labor Government is establishing the EMR program at all 35 integrated CFA stations around the state, with 15 integrated stations now providing emergency medical response.

The EMR program is also in full operation in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, which has successfully provided the critical first responder services since 2000.