TY - JOUR
T1 - Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of Automated External Defibrillators by laypersons in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using an SMS alert service
AU - Scholten, Annemieke C.
AU - van Manen, Jeannette G.
AU - van der Worp, Wim E.
AU - IJzerman, Maarten J.
AU - Doggen, Carine J.M.
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - Aim: To evaluate an SMS service (SMS. =short message service. =text message) with which laypersons are alerted to go to patients with suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and perform early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This study is the first to report on a program in which an emergency medical service (EMS) is able to alert citizens by sending them SMS messages on their mobile phone. Methods: Web-based questionnaires were completed by laypersons who were sent an alert by the AED-Alert system between February 1, 2010 and April 30, 2010. Questions concerned the process of training, receiving alerts, actions taken and follow-up care. Results: AED-Alert was activated for 52 patients suspected of cardiac arrest, sending 3227 alerts to 2287 laypersons. Out of 2168 eligible laypersons 1679 (77%) completed 2098 questionnaires, one for each alert. Action was taken in only 579 alerts. Laypersons were not in the patient's vicinity (41%), noticed alerts too late (35%), or other reasons (24%). In 298 alerts laypersons faced problems with retrieving AEDs (51%), finding addresses (29%), traffic (5%), or other (15%). Aid was provided in 75 alerts, involving 47 patients. Laypersons started early CPR and defibrillation (49%), assisted EMS personnel (52%), or took care of family (39%). Laypersons arrived before EMS personnel in 21 patients, started CPR and defibrillation in 18, and assisted EMS personnel in 9 patients. Conclusion: Improvements of the SMS alert service by laypersons, the EMS, and through technical adjustments, could increase the number of laypersons who provide early aid.
AB - Aim: To evaluate an SMS service (SMS. =short message service. =text message) with which laypersons are alerted to go to patients with suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and perform early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). This study is the first to report on a program in which an emergency medical service (EMS) is able to alert citizens by sending them SMS messages on their mobile phone. Methods: Web-based questionnaires were completed by laypersons who were sent an alert by the AED-Alert system between February 1, 2010 and April 30, 2010. Questions concerned the process of training, receiving alerts, actions taken and follow-up care. Results: AED-Alert was activated for 52 patients suspected of cardiac arrest, sending 3227 alerts to 2287 laypersons. Out of 2168 eligible laypersons 1679 (77%) completed 2098 questionnaires, one for each alert. Action was taken in only 579 alerts. Laypersons were not in the patient's vicinity (41%), noticed alerts too late (35%), or other reasons (24%). In 298 alerts laypersons faced problems with retrieving AEDs (51%), finding addresses (29%), traffic (5%), or other (15%). Aid was provided in 75 alerts, involving 47 patients. Laypersons started early CPR and defibrillation (49%), assisted EMS personnel (52%), or took care of family (39%). Laypersons arrived before EMS personnel in 21 patients, started CPR and defibrillation in 18, and assisted EMS personnel in 9 patients. Conclusion: Improvements of the SMS alert service by laypersons, the EMS, and through technical adjustments, could increase the number of laypersons who provide early aid.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052969697&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2011.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2011.05.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 21652136
AN - SCOPUS:80052969697
SN - 0300-9572
VL - 82
SP - 1273
EP - 1278
JO - Resuscitation
JF - Resuscitation
IS - 10
ER -