Short summary

To evaluate the use of GPS-activated volunteer first responders during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) on the island of Langeland. Furthermore, to examine the dissemination and use of automated external defibrillators during OHCA in the region of Southern Denmark and the AED coverage distances according to location types.

Rationale

Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rapid bystander defibrillation before the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS) can increase survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) to more than 50%. However, survival after OHCA ranges from 2-16% in most studies. Most OHCAs (cirka 70%) occur in residential areas, where both survival and bystander use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) has remained consistently low in recent years. To improve this, different strategies regarding the use of volunteer first responders (VFRs) are underway. On the island og Langeland, a mobile phone application system using GPS-tracking has been used to activate VFRs to reach the emergency site with an AED and perform CPR before the arrival of EMS. We wish to evaluate the use of VFRs in regards to bystander defibrillation and OHCA outcomes on the island of Langeland.

Description of the cohort

All patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest irrespective of the cause of arrest (drowning, trauma, suicide, accidents were included) in the region of Southern Denmark in the years 2014-2018.

Data and biological material

Data from registries, medical journals and prehospital patient journal (PPJ).

Collaborating researchers and departments

Research Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital

University of Southern Denmark

Emergency Medical Services, Region of Southern Denmark

Publications associated with the project

Sarkisian L, Mickley H, Schakow H, Gerke O, Jørgensen G, Larsen ML, Henriksen FL. Global positioning system alerted volunteer first responders arrive before emergency medical services in more than four out of five emergency calls. Resuscitation. 2020 Jul;152:170-176. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.12.010. Epub 2020 Jan 7. PMID: 31923531.