TY - JOUR

T1 - Follow-up on volunteer responders dispatched for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

T2 - Addressing the psychological and physical impact

AU - Rolin Kragh, Astrid

AU - Tofte Gregers, Mads

AU - Andelius, Linn

AU - Shahriari, Persia

AU - Kjærholm, Sofie

AU - Korsgaard, Anders

AU - Folke, Fredrik

AU - Malta Hansen, Carolina

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Introduction: Smartphone technology is increasingly used to engage lay people as volunteer responders in resuscitation attempts. Attention has recently been drawn to how resuscitation attempts may impact bystanders. Attempting resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) may be an overwhelming experience and, in some cases, difficult to cope with. We developed a volunteer responder follow-up program to systematically measure the psychological and physical impact on volunteer responders dispatched for OHCAs. Methods and Results: The nationwide Danish volunteer responder program dispatches volunteer responders for presumed cardiac arrests. 90 min after notification of a potential nearby cardiac arrest, all volunteer responders receive a survey, and are asked to self-report their mental state of mind after the event. The volunteer responders are also asked to disclose any physical injury they sustained in relation to the event. Volunteer responders who report severe mental effects are offered a defusing conversation by a trained nurse. Between 1 September 2017 and 31 December 2022, the Danish volunteer responder program has alerted 177,866 volunteer responders for 10,819 presumed cardiac arrest alerts. Of 177,866 alerted volunteers responders, 62,711 accepted the alarm. In the same period, 7,317 cancelled their registration. From January 2019 to 31 December 31 2022, a total of 535 volunteer responders were offered a defusing consultation. Conclusion: The Danish volunteer responder follow-up program is carried out to assess the psychological and physical risks of responding to a suspected OHCA. We suggest a survey-based method for systematic screening of volunteer responders that allow volunteer responders to report any physical injury or need of psychological follow-up. The person providing defusing should be a trained and experienced healthcare professional.

AB - Introduction: Smartphone technology is increasingly used to engage lay people as volunteer responders in resuscitation attempts. Attention has recently been drawn to how resuscitation attempts may impact bystanders. Attempting resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) may be an overwhelming experience and, in some cases, difficult to cope with. We developed a volunteer responder follow-up program to systematically measure the psychological and physical impact on volunteer responders dispatched for OHCAs. Methods and Results: The nationwide Danish volunteer responder program dispatches volunteer responders for presumed cardiac arrests. 90 min after notification of a potential nearby cardiac arrest, all volunteer responders receive a survey, and are asked to self-report their mental state of mind after the event. The volunteer responders are also asked to disclose any physical injury they sustained in relation to the event. Volunteer responders who report severe mental effects are offered a defusing conversation by a trained nurse. Between 1 September 2017 and 31 December 2022, the Danish volunteer responder program has alerted 177,866 volunteer responders for 10,819 presumed cardiac arrest alerts. Of 177,866 alerted volunteers responders, 62,711 accepted the alarm. In the same period, 7,317 cancelled their registration. From January 2019 to 31 December 31 2022, a total of 535 volunteer responders were offered a defusing consultation. Conclusion: The Danish volunteer responder follow-up program is carried out to assess the psychological and physical risks of responding to a suspected OHCA. We suggest a survey-based method for systematic screening of volunteer responders that allow volunteer responders to report any physical injury or need of psychological follow-up. The person providing defusing should be a trained and experienced healthcare professional.

KW - First responders

KW - Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

KW - Psychological impact

KW - Resuscitation

KW - Volunteer responders

U2 - 10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100402

DO - 10.1016/j.resplu.2023.100402

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37287956

AN - SCOPUS:85160578019

VL - 14

JO - Resuscitation Plus

JF - Resuscitation Plus

SN - 2666-5204

M1 - 100402

ER -