Together for more security: nohe and resQshock make a strong case for emergency aid

According to Swiss Heart Aid, around 8,000 people suffer cardiovascular arrest in Switzerland every year. Only five out of one hundred affected persons survive this outside the hospital. If a sudden cardiovascular arrest occurs, those affected are dependent on the rapid help of specialists.

As a former member of the rescue service, Flavio was able to experience the importance of a functioning rescue chain at first hand for 16 years, fortunately often very successfully in Switzerland. But when a circulatory arrest occurs, even the rescue service sometimes reaches its limits. This is where the professionals meet their greatest opponent: time.

In the event of cardiovascular arrest, literally every second counts. For every minute that elapses before cardiopulmonary resuscitation is started, the probability of survival of the affected person is reduced by about 10 percent. But in very few cases can the trained rescue service reach them within the critical time limit of three to five minutes.

The only chance of survival for those affected is often help from people in their immediate vicinity, such as relatives, co-workers or passers-by. Ideally, when emergency witnesses recognise cardiovascular arrest, they immediately begin to perform chest compressions in addition to using an automated external defibrillator (AED).

An AED device is designed to enable people without basic medical knowledge to perform resuscitation in emergency situations. The device takes over all medical decisions during use. It analyses the heart rhythm of the affected persons and gives clear instructions to the first-aiders about the measures to be taken.

If necessary, the AED can deliver an electric shock which, in the best case scenario, returns the affected person's heart to its natural rhythm.

An AED can be life-saving and can already be found in many public areas today, such as shopping centres or train stations. But is the number already enough? No, not by a long shot, Flavio explains. The goal of the SRC (Swiss Resuscitation Council) is for everyone in Switzerland to have access to an AED within five minutes of an emergency. But the reality is far from that.

Nevertheless, every additional device is a good step. For example, it is important that areas where there are many people at increased risk of cardiovascular arrest are well covered. Starting with old people's homes, airports, large companies to sports centres, schools and so on.

Even young, seemingly healthy people are not immune to suffering a circulatory arrest. It was only in July that the big shock came when the Danish national player Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during the European Championship match against Finland. The top athlete suffered a circulatory arrest out of nowhere. His luck: The professional staff on site started immediate cardiac massage and after a short time the life-saving electric shock was triggered by an AED. Eriksen opened his eyes on the spot.

Even if the chances of success in everyday life are significantly lower, the example shows that it is worth being prepared for emergencies. If a company, association or private person is considering purchasing an AED, Flavio recommends seeking professional advice. Of course, a defibrillator can be bought quickly on the internet, but such a device needs service, maintenance and, at best, good training.

resQshock supports all customers individually in making the right choice. An analysis shows when an AED makes sense and where it should be optimally placed. The company also offers the possibility of renting an AED for parties, large events, hotels and others.

The professional service of the leading company also includes defibrillator training. Participants learn how to handle an AED and have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the device in a calm situation. In addition, the whole process of resuscitation is looked at, learned and tested. The aim of this training is to gain safety as well as confidence to act correctly and efficiently in an emergency.

At the end of our conversation, we asked Flavio for a tip against the fear of first aid. His answer was as simple as it was obvious: "If a person suffers a circulatory arrest, they are guaranteed to die without help. All we can do is give them a small chance of survival. Therefore, nothing can ever be done wrong in resuscitation."