Emergency Revival: Yearly Preservation of 10,000 Lives Potentially Attributable to First Responders' Skills
A recent study conducted by the ADAC Foundation in Munich has highlighted the urgent need for a change in the country's approach to emergency first aid, particularly in the face of cardiac arrests. The study suggests that up to 10,000 lives could be saved annually in Germany if bystanders provided immediate first watch during cardiac arrests.
The study, titled "Monitor Reanimation 2025", paints a concerning picture. Only 9% of the laypeople surveyed said they had performed CPR at least once in their lives, and three-quarters of the population feel unsure about how to use a defibrillator. Worse still, 37% of the population do not feel confident to provide help in an emergency.
The risk of irreversible brain damage increases rapidly after four minutes without first watch. Yet, current statistics show that only about 11% of those suffering a cardiac arrest outside of clinics survive. The study emphasizes that immediate first watch could significantly increase the survival rate.
The federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is leading the way, having introduced mandatory CPR training in schools from the 2026/27 school year for all students in secondary level I. However, CPR training is only mandatory in two federal states, Hesse and Saarland, although 80% of citizens support this.
Christina Tillmann, chairwoman of the ADAC Foundation, emphasizes the goal of creating a "culture of resuscitation". She suggests that implementing mandatory CPR training in schools, providing incentives for adult training, making telephone CPR legally binding for emergency services, establishing a national registry for defibrillator locations, developing apps to alert qualified first responders in emergencies, and offering targeted support for volunteering in first watch structures could save many lives.
Defibrillators are not systematically distributed and their locations are not centrally recorded. The study suggests that a national registry should be established to record and distribute first watch locations as needed. First aider apps only cover half of Germany, and their funding and technical standards are inconsistent. The experts recommend that these apps should be established and funded to alert qualified first responders in the vicinity during emergencies.
Telephone CPR is not consistently implemented, and emergency services take an average of seven minutes to arrive. This time can be longer in rural areas, in addition to the time taken for the emergency call. The study indicates that many people lack confidence in performing CPR and providing breaths during emergencies.
The situation is critical, yet there is hope. The study suggests that with the right measures, many lives could be saved. It's time for Germany to take a step towards building a "culture of first watch".
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