Original scientific paper

Public access to the “Restart a Heart – Save a Life” early defibrillation programme in Croatia

MAJA GRBA-BUJEVIĆ ; Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine, Planinska 13, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
INGRID BOŠAN-KILIBARDA ; Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine, Planinska 13, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
RAJKO OSTOJIĆ ; Ministry of Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

In collaboration with the Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine and the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the Ministry
of Health launched the National Public Access to Early Defibrillation Programme entitled “Restart a Heart – Save a Life” in
2013. The main implementing activities are public health education about early defibrillation in the case of sudden cardiac
arrest, enlarging the accessibility of the automated external defibrillator (AED) and training laymen to perform cardiopulmonary
resuscitation and defibrillation by use of AED. Forty-one training courses were organised and 422 lay people trained
in 2013. In addition, 197 AEDs were obtained and fitted in settings where people are expected to assemble permanently or
occasionally. The “Restart a Heart – Save a Life” programme ensures a broad platform for joint action of public administration
authorities, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and all organisations and individuals interested in reaching the
goal of increasing the rate of survival of people suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Keywords

national Public Access to Early Defibrillation Program; sudden cardiac arrest; early defibrillation; automated external defibrillator

Hrčak ID:

134163

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/134163

Publication date:

1.6.2014.

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