Improving survival in the community
THE CHALLENGE
30 million deaths
Every year, an estimated 30 million people die from time-critical emergencies like cardiac arrest, stroke, trauma and sepsis. 80-90 % of the incidents start in the community – most of them in private homes.
There is a big difference in survival between the best and lowest performing EMS systems.
The chances of survival drop significantly for every minute the patient is untreated. Today, time is lost due to delays before bystanders call the dispatch center, and until the dispatchers have made the right diagnosis and activated an ambulance that can provide professional help.
The opportunity
Strengthening the chain of survival
The biggest opportunity to save more lives lies in optimizing the first two links in the chain of survival: enabling the bystander to activate the chain of survival early, and having a dispatcher effectively coach the bystander to help until the ambulance arrives.
There are also tremendous opportunities to save more lives by learning from the EMS systems with the best survival rates in the world – unpacking their “secret sauce” and helping other EMS systems to improve their own systems towards this gold standard.
Our partner programs
Improving community CPR training
One of the most important factors to increase survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is bystander CPR. Millions should be trained in CPR - and to work effectively together with the dispatcher.
Mobilizing the first responder team
If bystanders are supported by dispatchers, bystander CPR rates and the quality of CPR can increase several-fold. New, connected and strategically placed AEDs may enhance impact potential even further.
Spreading best EMS practice
Survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is very dependent on where you live. The Global Resuscitation Alliance seeks to develop and spread best practices to remedy this disparity.
Stroke and sepsis
For stroke and sepsis, time is critical. Early recognition, skilled ambulance crew, rapid transport, and prompt hospital intervention are vital for survival and recovery.
CASE: Denmark
Survival rates increase by 400%
The Danish Cardiac Arrest Register, established in 2001, initially revealed that only 4% of individuals who experienced a cardiac arrest in the community survived beyond 30 days, equating to just over 30 survivors per million population.
However, recent data shows a remarkable four-fold increase in survival rates to 16%, or 140 survivors per million population, putting Denmark on par with the best in the world, including Seattle, USA.
This significant achievement is a result of following the principles that led to Seattle's success, which are encapsulated in the ten steps adopted by the Global Resuscitation Alliance.
The Danish school CPR program has been a very important contributor to the four-fold increase in survival from prehospital cardiac arrest in Denmark.
- Freddy Lippert, Director of Copenhagen EMS Services
Shelisha and Khalif's story
At a family barbecue, Shelisha found her nephew Khalif lifeless after being pulled from a pond. Using CPR, she revived him before paramedics arrived. Khalif later made a full recovery.