Deepthy Varghese, MSN, ACNP, FNP, of Northside Hospital, is joined by guests Sheldon Cheskes MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, Sunnybrook Research Institute, and Jason Grady, NRP of Northside Hospital to discuss the Association Between Number of Volunteer Responders and Interventions Before Ambulance Arrival for Cardiac Arrest. The study aimed to explore the relationship between the number of volunteer responders (VRs) arriving before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the likelihood of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs). The researchers analyzed OHCAs in two regions of Denmark and categorized them based on the arrival of VRs before EMS, with groups having 0, 1, 2, or 3 or more VRs. Using logistic regression adjusted for EMS response time, the study found that an increasing number of VRs arriving before EMS was associated with higher odds of bystander CPR and defibrillation. Specifically, the odds ratios (ORs) for bystander CPR and defibrillation increased as more VRs arrived before EMS, indicating a positive trend in the association. The study concluded that the presence of one or more VRs before EMS was linked to an increase in bystander CPR and defibrillation, with a notable trend towards increased defibrillation as the number of VRs increased.

https://www.hrsonline.org/education/TheLead https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2022.11.047

Host Disclosure(s): D. Varghese: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Contributor Disclosure(s): S. Cheskes: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Zoll Medical Corporation J. Grady: Honoraria/Speaking/Consulting Fee: Abiomed