It Takes a Village to Save a Life: The Neighbors Saving Neighbors Community Responder Program

Summary: The Neighbors Saving Neighbors community volunteer responder program involves CPR-trained and AED-equipped volunteers dispatched to cardiac arrest emergencies in rural communities in Eastern Ontario, Ontario. ). Because NsN volunteers will be embedded in communities with longer than average paramedic response times, we anticipate that they will be the first on the scene in many cases. This program launched in March 2023 in Frontenac County, Ontario. This presentation will include a description of the program design, the pathway to implementation, volunteer training, volunteer equipment and treatment protocols, lessons learned and any preliminary data on program impact available at the time of the summit.

Synopsis: The Neighbors Saving Neighbors (NsN) Volunteer Community CPR and AED Responder Pilot Program, aims to increase survival rates in those who suffer cardiac arrest in our communities. Every year, there are approximately 35,000 people who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Canada, with only 8-12% surviving. When cardiac arrest occurs, the probability of survival decreases by 7-10% per minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or defibrillation, so early treatment is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, witnesses at the scene provide CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a minority of cases. Paramedic response time, even in dense urban settings, is usually longer than 8 minutes. Response time in more rural settings can often exceed 15-20 minutes. “Community volunteer responder” programs, involving the dispatch of vetted, trained, and equipped local volunteers, aim to reduce the delay to CPR and AED use. These programs are rare in Canada and have never been studied here.

The Frontenac County Neighbours Saving Neighbours Community Responder Program aims to reduce the delay to high quality CPR and defibrillation for people who experience sudden cardiac arrest in Frontenac County. The program involves the dispatching of local community volunteers trained in CPR and equipped with an AED. When a call is made to 9-1-1 about a possible cardiac arrest, nearby volunteers will receive a notification on their GoodSAM mobile phone application. Volunteers will then respond in parallel with existing emergency responders (e.g. paramedics and firefightersThis will reduce the delay to life-saving CPR and application of an AED.