In the first phase of the Heartsafe NWE project, our team concentrated on building the foundation for effective community-based first responder systems in three pilot regions: Galway, Leuven, and Neuwied. To achieve this, we conducted in-depth analyses of each region’s current out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (OHCA) landscape.
These assessments involved mapping the existing emergency response infrastructure, reviewing AED coverage, identifying key stakeholders, and evaluating local legal frameworks. This groundwork has been crucial in adapting the first responder systems to meet the specific needs of each area, ensuring a tailored and sustainable approach to improving survival rates.
Crucial to our success has been engaging key stakeholders such as emergency services, local authorities, NGOs, and community organizations. By building these networks early on, we’ve laid a strong foundation for a collaborative and community-centered response system that will help save lives.
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