Grant: Team Grant: Cardiac Arrest: Accelerate Response and Increase Survival

Sudden cardiac arrest is a major health problem in Canada. It happens when the heart suddenly stops beating. Each year, more than 40,000 people in Canada have a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital. Most are still active and living at home. About 85% collapse in their own home, often in front of a family member or friend. Sadly, fewer than one in ten people survive. Fast action saves lives. When someone starts chest compressions right away, survival is much more likely. For every minute without CPR, the chance of survival drops by about 10%. That is 1% for every 6 seconds. Calling 9-1-1 quickly and starting CPR as soon as possible are critical steps. When people call 9-1-1, trained telecommunicators ask questions and guide callers through CPR. This phone-based help is one of the most effective ways to improve survival. However, it is not always easy to tell over the phone if someone is in cardiac arrest. Many people who collapse make gasping or gurgling sounds. These sounds can seem like normal breathing, even though the heart has stopped. Because of this, cardiac arrest is sometimes missed, and CPR is delayed. This project aims to help telecommunicators recognize cardiac arrest faster and more accurately by using artificial intelligence, or AI. The AI listens to the words used by callers and looks for phrases linked to cardiac arrest. For example, callers may say the person is “not breathing right” or “making strange sounds.” The AI does not replace the telecommunicator. Instead, it gives support by showing how likely cardiac arrest is and explaining why. The study will test this AI system in several 9-1-1 communication centres across Canada. First, the team will run a pilot study. During some periods, telecommunicators will use their usual call-taking process. During other periods, they will also see AI support on a screen while taking calls. This step-by-step approach helps the team see how well the AI fits into real work and whether telecommunicators trust and use it. The main goals are to see if the AI helps telecommunicators recognize cardiac arrest more often, recognize it faster, and start CPR instructions sooner. The study will also measure bystander CPR rates and survival. Early testing suggests this approach could improve survival by about 5%. If used across Canada, this could save 2,000 lives per year. This project is led by a strong national team with deep experience in cardiac arrest research. The team includes 9-1-1 leaders, paramedics, doctors, researchers, policymakers, and people who have survived cardiac arrest. Training is a key part of the plan, with support for students, early-career researchers, and telecommunicators. The team will also work closely with other successful cardiac arrest research teams to share tools, lessons, and results. Together, this work aims to improve emergency care and save more lives across Canada.