Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with a low survival rate of around 7% globally. Key factors for improving survival include witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. Despite guidelines advocating for the “ch...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IMR Press
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/26/1/10.31083/RCM26140 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832586514813419520 |
|---|---|
| author | Michael Kern Gerrit Jansen Bernd Strickmann Thoralf Kerner |
| author_facet | Michael Kern Gerrit Jansen Bernd Strickmann Thoralf Kerner |
| author_sort | Michael Kern |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with a low survival rate of around 7% globally. Key factors for improving survival include witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. Despite guidelines advocating for the “chain of survival”, bystander CPR and defibrillation rates remain suboptimal. Innovative approaches, such as dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) and smartphone-based alerts, have emerged to address these challenges. DA-CPR effectively transforms emergency callers into lay rescuers, and smartphone apps are increasingly being used to alert volunteer first responders to OHCA incidents, enhancing response times and increasing survival rates. Smartphone-based systems offer advantages over traditional text messaging by providing real-time guidance and automated external defibrillator (AED) locations. Studies show improved outcomes with app-based alerts, including higher rates of early CPR, increased survival rates and improved neurological outcomes. Additionally, the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to deliver AEDs rapidly to OHCA sites has been demonstrated, particularly in rural areas with extended emergency medical services response times. Despite technological advancements, challenges such as ensuring responder training, effective dispatching, and maintaining responder well-being, particularly during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, remain. During the pandemic, some community first responder programs were suspended or modified due to shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased risks of infection. However, systems that adapted by using PPE and revising protocols generally maintained responder participation and effectiveness. Moving forward, integrating new technology within robust responder systems and support mechanisms will be essential to improving OHCA outcomes and sustaining effective response networks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-75ef438220a040ebab31ffbc40dbd3c5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1530-6550 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-75ef438220a040ebab31ffbc40dbd3c52025-01-25T10:41:20ZengIMR PressReviews in Cardiovascular Medicine1530-65502025-01-012612614010.31083/RCM26140S1530-6550(24)01667-3Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature ReviewMichael Kern0Gerrit Jansen1Bernd Strickmann2Thoralf Kerner3Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pain and Palliative Therapy, Asklepios Klinikum Harburg, 21075 Hamburg, GermanyUniversity Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden, Ruhr University Bochum, 32423 Minden, GermanyBevoelkerungsschutz, District of Guetersloh, 33334 Guetersloh, GermanyDepartment of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pain and Palliative Therapy, Asklepios Klinikum Harburg, 21075 Hamburg, GermanyOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of death worldwide, with a low survival rate of around 7% globally. Key factors for improving survival include witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. Despite guidelines advocating for the “chain of survival”, bystander CPR and defibrillation rates remain suboptimal. Innovative approaches, such as dispatcher-assisted CPR (DA-CPR) and smartphone-based alerts, have emerged to address these challenges. DA-CPR effectively transforms emergency callers into lay rescuers, and smartphone apps are increasingly being used to alert volunteer first responders to OHCA incidents, enhancing response times and increasing survival rates. Smartphone-based systems offer advantages over traditional text messaging by providing real-time guidance and automated external defibrillator (AED) locations. Studies show improved outcomes with app-based alerts, including higher rates of early CPR, increased survival rates and improved neurological outcomes. Additionally, the potential of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to deliver AEDs rapidly to OHCA sites has been demonstrated, particularly in rural areas with extended emergency medical services response times. Despite technological advancements, challenges such as ensuring responder training, effective dispatching, and maintaining responder well-being, particularly during the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, remain. During the pandemic, some community first responder programs were suspended or modified due to shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased risks of infection. However, systems that adapted by using PPE and revising protocols generally maintained responder participation and effectiveness. Moving forward, integrating new technology within robust responder systems and support mechanisms will be essential to improving OHCA outcomes and sustaining effective response networks.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/26/1/10.31083/RCM26140out-of-hospital cardiac arrestvolunteer first responderaedsmartphone alertdronescovid-19 |
| spellingShingle | Michael Kern Gerrit Jansen Bernd Strickmann Thoralf Kerner Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine out-of-hospital cardiac arrest volunteer first responder aed smartphone alert drones covid-19 |
| title | Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review |
| title_full | Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review |
| title_short | Advancements in Public First Responder Programs for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: An Updated Literature Review |
| title_sort | advancements in public first responder programs for out of hospital cardiac arrest an updated literature review |
| topic | out-of-hospital cardiac arrest volunteer first responder aed smartphone alert drones covid-19 |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/26/1/10.31083/RCM26140 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelkern advancementsinpublicfirstresponderprogramsforoutofhospitalcardiacarrestanupdatedliteraturereview AT gerritjansen advancementsinpublicfirstresponderprogramsforoutofhospitalcardiacarrestanupdatedliteraturereview AT berndstrickmann advancementsinpublicfirstresponderprogramsforoutofhospitalcardiacarrestanupdatedliteraturereview AT thoralfkerner advancementsinpublicfirstresponderprogramsforoutofhospitalcardiacarrestanupdatedliteraturereview |