A roadmap to building first responder networks: Lessons learned and best practices from Belgium and Switzerland

Background/Aims: Limited bystander assistance and delayed emergency medical service arrival reduce the chances of survival in cardiac arrest victims. Early basic life support through trained first responders (FR) and automatic external defibrillation both improve the outcome. Well-organized FR networks have shown promise, but guidance on effective implementation is lacking. This study evaluates two FR networks, in Belgium and in Switzerland, to identify main advancements in the development of such systems. Method: Direct comparison is made of the barriers and facilitators in the development of... Mehr ...