Mobilizing the first resuscitation team
Even for those trained in CPR, facing a real-life sudden cardiac arrest can be extremely stressful. However, they are not alone if the emergency call is made quickly and the telecommunicator or dispatcher is proficient in assisting the rescuer to perform high-quality CPR. Such coaching has been shown to increase the quality of CPR provided and double bystander CPR rates.
the challenge
Over 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home
Over 70% of all witnessed community cardiac arrests occur in the home where there is most likely only one rescuer. But the rescuer is never alone, and professional help is given over the phone by the medical dispatcher to help recognize the cardiac arrest and guide the rescuer in performing CPR until a volunteer first responder or ambulance arrives.
Such “telephone CPR” (T-CPR) can be very effective especially when time from collapse to contact with a medical dispatcher is short and the bystander has previously received CPR training including simulated interaction with the medical dispatcher.
Improving CPR training
Empowering bystanders with dispatch training
Reducing the delay in bystanders calling medical dispatch is key to better cardiac arrest survival rates. To increase confidence in laypeople to swiftly contact emergency services if they witness a cardiac arrest, we have developed training modules educating them on the right time to call.
The training also includes a simulated interaction with a medical dispatcher, teaching them what to anticipate and how to effectively cooperate with the dispatcher. This training is part of widespread training initiatives across the UK, the US, Japan, and Sweden.
Case from Korea
The first resuscitation team of bystander and dispatcher has been the key to recent success in Korea. It was in 2013 that Laerdal helped with dispatcher training in Seoul and the following year partnered with Seoul National University Hospital and Seoul Metropolitan Government to develop a complementary CPR training program.
Called HEROS it prepared the bystander for interacting with the dispatcher. In the subsequent four years, survival rates increased by 50% from 29 per million population in 2014 to 44 per million in 2018.
Avive AED
Connecting the first resuscitation team
In 2020, the Laerdal Million Lives Fund invested in Avive, a cutting-edge, IoT-integrated automated external defibrillator (AED). The Avive AED functions as a standard AED and, more critically, can be activated by the dispatch system. It guides individuals to the location of a cardiac arrest where an AED is needed and facilitates communication between bystanders and dispatchers.
Avive received FDA approval and launched in 2023. Beyond being just an AED manufacturer, Avive is also pioneering its 4-Minute City program in various US cities. This program integrates connected AEDs, bystander mobile apps, and EMS dispatch software with a goal to achieve response times of less than 4 minutes.
Avive
The Avive Connect AED™ is a connected system of care focused on improving out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest outcomes.
RESEARCH STUDY
Making every resuscitation a learning event
Crowd-sourcing CPR volunteers is rapidly expanding globally, with significant success. Singapore's MyResponder program has over 175,000 volunteers, and a Lancet study reported a threefold increase in survival with volunteer and Telephone CPR (T-CPR) interventions. However, a BMJ pilot study revealed suboptimal CPR quality due to volunteers' fear of causing harm and lack of dispatcher guidance.
The ongoing TCPR Link study aims to improve volunteer-dispatcher interaction by streaming CPR data and video to dispatchers for targeted coaching. This approach will turn every resuscitation into a learning opportunity for 15,000 MyResponders in Singapore.
We believe this enabling technology can help us save more lives, together.
Marcus Ong, Senior Consultant and Clinician Scientist, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore
Luqman's story
At just 18, Muhammad Luqman Abdul Rahman from Singapore has helped save nearly 20 lives. He made his first life-saving intervention at 13 using the My Responder app to administer CPR to a collapsed worker. Initially concerned, his parents now fully support his dedication. Guided by his values, Luqman aspires to be a paramedic officer.