Home Care Providers to the Rescue: A Novel First-Responder Programme.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the implementation of a novel first-responder programme in which home care providers equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were dispatched in parallel with existing emergency medical services in the event of a suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).


METHODS
We evaluated a one-year prospective study that trained home care providers in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an AED in cases of suspected OHCA. Data were collected from cardiac arrest case files, case files from each provider dispatch and a survey among dispatched providers. The study was conducted in a rural district in Denmark.


RESULTS
Home care providers were dispatched to 28 of the 60 OHCAs that occurred in the study period. In ten cases the providers arrived before the ambulance service and subsequently performed CPR. AED analysis was executed in three cases and shock was delivered in one case. For 26 of the 28 cases, the cardiac arrest occurred in a private home. Ninety-five per cent of the providers who had been dispatched to a cardiac arrest reported feeling prepared for managing the initial resuscitation, including use of AED.


CONCLUSIONS
Home care providers are suited to act as first-responders in predominantly rural and residential districts. Future follow-up will allow further evaluation of home care provider arrivals and patient survival.
Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Steen M
SM
Hansen
Hjerteforeningen, Danish Heart Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Stig
S
Brøndum
The Danish Foundation TrygFonden, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Grethe
G
Thomas
KORA, Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research, Aarhus, Denmark.
Susanne R
SR
Rasmussen
Department of Health and Nursing, Municipality of Frederikshavn, North Denmark Region, Frederikshavn, Denmark.
Birgitte
B
Kvist
Prehospital Care Organization, North Denmark Region, Aalborg, Denmark.
Anette
A
Christensen
Home Care Organization, Municipality of Frederikshavn, North Denmark Region, Frederikshavn, Denmark.
Charlotte
C
Lyng
Prehospital Care Organization, North Denmark Region, Aalborg, Denmark.
Jan
J
Lindberg
Department of Anaesthesia, The Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Torsten L B
TL
Lauritsen
The Emergency Medical Services, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Freddy K
FK
Lippert
Department of Health, Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Christian
C
Torp-Pedersen
Prehospital Care Organization, North Denmark Region, Aalborg, Denmark.
Poul A
PA
Hansen
D003718:Denmark; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060731:Emergency Responders; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018635:Rescue Work; D000078329:Workforce