A record number of Danish citizens have signed up as “heart runners” to provide CPR to cardiac arrest victims before emergency services arrive, a scheme researchers say is unique worldwide and a vital part of the emergency response system. With over 57,000 active heart runners, comprising over one percent of the adult population, the program has significantly impacted survival rates.
The heart runner scheme, which began in Copenhagen in 2017 and has since expanded nationwide, alerts volunteers via mobile phone when a cardiac arrest occurs nearby. In the first five months of this year alone, heart runners were activated 1,309 times, often being the first responders on the scene.
Experts estimate that heart runners arrive before professional emergency services in at least 70 percent of cases. Acceptance rates for alarms are high, with at least one heart runner responding in 99 percent of cases and at least two in 98 percent of cases.
The critical time limit for survival after cardiac arrest is about 10 minutes, making immediate intervention crucial. CPR, involving chest compressions and artificial respiration, helps circulate blood and reduce organ damage from oxygen deficiency. A defibrillator may also be necessary to restore a normal heart rhythm.
A study in the Capital Region of Denmark is examining the scheme’s impact by comparing outcomes in cases where heart runners are activated versus those where they are not. While the study’s results are expected next year, there is a strong belief that the scheme has saved lives. The Danish Heart Foundation emphasizes the importance of early CPR and notes that the geographical distribution of heart runners has improved response times.
The heart runner program is particularly valuable in sparsely populated areas where ambulance response times may be longer. Regions like Region Zealand, which has faced challenges in staffing ambulances, have found heart runners to be a significant asset.
Currently managed and funded by TrygFonden, discussions are underway to transfer responsibility for the scheme to the regions, integrating it into the public health service. Politicians in the regions strongly support the program, recognizing its success and contribution to emergency services.
Each year, an estimated 600 to 650 people are resuscitated after cardiac arrest. Approximately 90 percent of survivors are alive one year later, and 96 percent experience a good quality of life, with only a small percentage suffering severe neurological damage.