Dual dispatch early defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a mixed urban–rural population

Saner, Hugo; Morger, Cyrill; Eser, Prisca; von Planta, Martin (2013). Dual dispatch early defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a mixed urban–rural population. Resuscitation, 84(9), pp. 1197-1202. Elsevier Science Ireland 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.02.023

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Aims

The effects of a system based on minimally trained first responders (FR) dispatched simultaneously with the emergency medical services (EMS) of the local hospital in a mixed urban and rural area in Northwestern Switzerland were examined.

Methods and results

In this prospective study 500 voluntary fire fighters received a 4-h training in basic-life-support using automated-external-defibrillation (AED). FR and EMS were simultaneously dispatched in a two-tier rescue system. During the years 2001–2008, response times, resuscitation interventions and outcomes were monitored. 1334 emergencies were included. The FR reached the patients (mean age 60.4 ± 19 years; 65% male) within 6 ± 3 min after emergency calls compared to 12 ± 5 min by the EMS (p < 0.0001). Seventy-six percent of the 297 OHCAs occurred at home. Only 3 emergencies with resuscitation attempts occurred at the main railway station equipped with an on-site AED. FR were on the scene before arrival of the EMS in 1166 (87.4%) cases. Of these, the FR used AED in 611 patients for monitoring or defibrillation. CPR was initiated by the FR in 164 (68.9% of 238 resuscitated patients). 124 patients were defibrillated, of whom 93 (75.0%) were defibrillated first by the FR. Eighteen patients (of whom 13 were defibrillated by the FR) were discharged from hospital in good neurological condition.

Conclusions

Minimally trained fire fighters integrated in an EMS as FR contributed substantially to an increase of the survival rate of OHCAs in a mixed urban and rural area.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Cardiovascular Disorders (DHGE) > Clinic of Cardiology
UniBE Contributor:	Saner, Hugo Ernst, Morger, Cyrill Jan, Eser, Prisca Christina
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0300-9572
Publisher:	Elsevier Science Ireland
Language:	English
Submitter:	Prisca Eser
Date Deposited:	02 May 2014 10:02
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 23:24
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.02.023
Uncontrolled Keywords:	First responders, Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Sudden cardiac death, Ventricular fibrillation, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Automated external defibrillators, Fire fighters
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/42397