Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

"Sudden cardiac arrest" occurs when the heart stops beating unexpectedly. Each year, 45,000 Canadians suffer a cardiac arrest and less than 12% percent survive. CPR and defibrillation can improve survival but need to be done as soon as possible to be effective. Defibrillation involves the use of an automated external defibrillator or "AED" to deliver an electrical shock and restart the heart. Unfortunately, it can take 10 minutes or longer for an ambulance to arrive after calling 9-1-1, so bystanders must act to optimize chances of survival. Witnesses to cardiac arrest provide CPR in only half of cases and use an AED in less than 3%. Increasing the number of people who receive early CPR and defibrillation before paramedics arrive will save more lives. Some countries, like the United Kingdom, have developed a new approach to this problem. They have developed programs that involve community volunteers. Volunteers are recruited, trained in CPR and equipped with an AED. Then, when on duty, these community volunteers are dispatched to nearby cardiac arrest emergencies along with paramedics. Because these volunteers are embedded in communities, they tend to be closer to the patients than paramedics on many occasions. Volunteers arrive with the patient before paramedics can begin CPR and use the AED until paramedics arrive. Very little research has been done on this new idea. We are planning a Canadian version of this approach called "Neighbours saving Neighbours". Because this has never been done in Canada before, we need to consult with experts in cardiac arrest, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, decision-makers in government, patients, and other community members to determine the best approach. This grant will support a one-day meeting in Kingston where stakeholders and researchers will design the Neighbours saving Neighbours program, identify important research questions, plan for future research and begin work on future grant applications.