The new 2021 resuscitation guidelines and the importance of lay resuscitation

Abstract

Lay resuscitation is one of the most important measures to increase the survival rate of patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. While European countries, and especially Scandinavian countries, achieve lay resuscitation rates of over 80%, the rate in Germany is only around 40%. The 2021 Resuscitation Guidelines updated by the European Resuscitation Council give special weight to Systems Saving Lives and focus on resuscitation by laypersons. The Systems Saving Lives emphasize the interplay between all actors involved in the chain of survival and thereby specify the link between the emergency service and the general population. Based on the BIG FIVE survival strategies after cardiac arrest, five key strategies are outlined that can achieve the greatest improvement in survival. These are (1) increasing lay resuscitation rates through campaigns and KIDS SAVE LIVES school-based resuscitation training, (2) implementing telephone resuscitation in dispatch centers, (3) first responder systems, (4) advanced life support, and (5) specialized cardiac arrest centers.