title: [Public access defibrillation in alpine skiing areas: three case reports and a brief survey of the literature].
abstract: In the months of winter 2002-2004, three cases of non-traumatic cardiac arrest occurred in the skiing area of the Stubaier Gletscher in Tyrol, Austria. All patients were initially resuscitated by ski patrol members, including the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Two of the patients were alive at hospital admission, one patient was discharged from hospital without neurological damage. The article describes the chain of survival in a high-alpine area, the installation of a modified public-access-defibrillation (PAD) system in a skiing area, and the prerequisites necessary for a successful PAD-program far away from an organized emergency medical system.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesie und Allg. Intensivmedizin, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Osterreich. hannes.lienhart@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lienhart
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Breitfeld
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Voelckel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018635:Rescue Work; D012151:Resuscitation; D012865:Skiing