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Heart of the Nation (HotN) is a program founded by Greg Page, the original Yellow Wiggle, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and improve survival rates in Australia. The initiative was inspired by Page's own life-threatening experience during The Original Wiggles Reunion Show for Bush Fire Relief on January 17, 2020. Page suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a blocked artery as he exited the stage. His survival was attributed to the quick actions of bystanders who performed CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart his heart (Heart Foundation; SBS).
Following his recovery, Page established Heart of the Nation in 2020 to educate Australians on responding to cardiac emergencies and increase access to AEDs. The program emphasizes the "Chain of Survival," which includes calling emergency services, performing CPR, and using an AED within the critical first few minutes. HotN has registered over 8,000 AEDs nationwide and distributed bright yellow stickers to identify their locations (Heart Foundation; Seniors). Additionally, it collaborates with organizations like the Heart Foundation to place AEDs in rural areas and conduct educational sessions, empowering bystanders to act confidently during emergencies (SBS).
Greg Page’s advocacy stems from his recognition of the low survival rate for SCA in Australia—only 5% of the 25,000 annual cases result in patients returning home to their families. Through training sessions, AED accessibility campaigns, and community partnerships, Heart of the Nation aims to transform bystanders into responders capable of saving lives before paramedics arrive (Seniors; SBS).
External Links[]
- Official Website
- https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-stories/former-yellow-wiggle-greg-page
- https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/article/a-sudden-cardiac-arrest-on-stage-almost-killed-greg-page-and-inspired-him-to-help-others/cs34mivfc
- https://www.seniors.com.au/health-insurance/discover/greg-page-heart-of-the-nation