THREE surfers and shark attack survivors are leading the call for the roll out of life-saving emergency response kits on beaches across Australia.
One year after creating Community Shark Bite Kits, founder and Hastings local Danny Schouten has deployed more than 150 kits on beaches across NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
“We’re not going to stop doing what we love, so we just have to be better prepared,” he said.
“When a shark attack happens, every second counts.”
The importance of the kits was evident following last week’s death of a Swiss woman and the mauling of her partner, while swimming off Kylies Beach in Crowdy Bay National Park.
The man was saved by a passer-by who applied a makeshift tourniquet.
Permanent kits were about to be installed on the beach.
“A Shark Bite Kit provides tools that can help control bleeding and hopefully increase someone’s chance of survival,” Danny said.
“With the support of communities and donors, we can get Shark Bite Kits on every beach around the country.
“It’s about Australian beaches being well-prepared for when these attacks happen and making our coastline a safer place for everyone.”
Danny’s surfer friends and shark attack survivors Toby Begg and Kai McKenzie, whose traumatic experiences on Port Macquarie beaches last year inspired the kits, are supporting his campaign.
Toby said, “Shark Bite Kits are important because they have the potential to be life-saving specifically to stop massive bleeding until emergency help arrives.”
Kai McKenzie added, “The Shark Bite Kits are a great idea that could really save someone’s life.”
Medical equipment specialists TacMed supply the contents, which include a tourniquet, two conforming bandages, two large dressings, an emergency thermal blanket, gloves, a whistle and step-by-step instructions on how to treat a shark bite.
GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said, “I had the privilege of meeting Danny, Toby and Kai last month and admire their drive to roll out such a simple but vital kit.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to support the development and rollout of the kits nationally, aiming to give Australians the best possible chance of survival in the event of a shark attack.
By Sis HIGGINS
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