A smartphone application for dispatch of lay responders to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

Ellinor Berglund; Andreas Claesson; Per Nordberg; Therese Djärv; Peter Lundgren; Fredrik Folke; Sune Forsberg; Gabriel Riva; Mattias Ringh

doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.01.039

A smartphone application for dispatch of lay responders to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

Resuscitation. 2018 May:126:160-165. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.01.039. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Authors

Ellinor Berglund¹, Andreas Claesson¹, Per Nordberg¹, Therese Djärv¹, Peter Lundgren², Fredrik Folke³, Sune Forsberg⁴, Gabriel Riva¹, Mattias Ringh⁵

Affiliations

¹ Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
² Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Emergency Medical Services Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
⁴ Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Norrtälje Hospital, Norrtälje, Sweden.
⁵ Center for Resuscitation Science, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: Mattias.ringh@ki.se.

PMID: 29408717
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.01.039

Abstract

Background: Dispatch of lay volunteers trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) may improve survival in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The aim of this study was to investigate the functionality and performance of a smartphone application for locating and alerting nearby trained laymen/women in cases of OHCA.

Methods: A system using a smartphone application activated by Emergency Dispatch Centres was used to locate and alert laymen/women to nearby suspected OHCAs. Lay responders were instructed either to perform CPR or collect a nearby AED. An online survey was carried out among the responders.

Results: From February to August 2016, the system was activated in 685 cases of suspected OHCA. Among these, 224 cases were Emergency Medical Services (EMSs)-treated OHCAs (33%). EMS-witnessed cases (n = 11) and cases with missing survey data (n = 15) were excluded. In the remaining 198 OHCAs, lay responders arrived at the scene in 116 cases (58%), and prior to EMSs in 51 cases (26%). An AED was attached in 17 cases (9%) and 4 (2%) were defibrillated. Lay responders performed CPR in 54 cases (27%). Median distance to the OHCA was 560 m (IQR 332-860 m), and 1280 m (IQR 748-1776 m) via AED pick-up. The survey-answering rate was 82%.

Conclusion: A smartphone application can be used to alert CPR-trained lay volunteers to OHCAs for CPR. Further improvements are needed to shorten the time to defibrillation before EMS arrival.

Keywords: AED; App; Application; Automated external defibrillator; Bystander; CPR; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; GPS; LBS; Lay responder; Laymen/women; Location-based services; Mobile phone; OHCA; Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; Smartphone.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / methods*
Defibrillators
Emergency Medical Dispatch / methods*
Humans
Middle Aged
Mobile Applications*
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / mortality
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy*
Prospective Studies
Smartphone*
Sweden / epidemiology
Time-to-Treatment