Last year in Northern Ireland there were over 1,400 cardiac arrests that occurred in the community outside a hospital environment. Fewer than10% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will survive to be discharged from hospital. Crucially, the evidence suggests that where there is a high proportion of the population trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills the survival rate for those who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are higher.
This draft strategy has been developed with the aim of significantly increasing the number of people with CPR skills so that they could provide help to someone who suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, thus increasing considerably their chance of survival.
It has been developed by a group that had representation from DHSSPS, a number of other Government Departments, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Health and Social Care organisations and the voluntary and community bodies involved in resuscitation training.
By definition, a community resuscitation strategy has to be a collaborative effort involving the active participation of many people in all walks of life. Community engagement and participation are crucial to its success.
Respondents were asked to contribute any ideas that they feel could strengthen the strategy in any way so that they could be considered before the draft objectives and actions are finalised.
