Major Differences in the Use of Protocols for Dispatcher-Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among ILCOR Member Countries

Figures & data

Table 1 Content of Translated Protocols (n=19)

	Yes
Check for responsiveness and breathing	100% (n=19)
Note to dispatcher about agonal breathing	47% (n=8)^a
Activation of phone speaker function	35% (n=6)^a
Chest compression only CPR	89% (n=16)^b
Standard CPR if previously CPR trained	28% (n=2)^b
Remove clothing to bare chest	26% (n=5)
Hand positioning: Centre of the chest	89% (n=17)
Chest compressions: “Push hard/as hard as you can	68% (n=13)*
Chest compressions: Push 5–6 cm	58% (n=11)*
Dispatcher counts compression rate	84% (n=13)
Protocolled encouragements during CPR	11% (n=2)
Integrating an automated external defibrillator	59% (n=10)^a

Notes: ^aMissing data for 2 countries. ^bMissing data for 1 country. *Some protocols combine “push as hard as you can” and “push 5–6 cm”.

Abbreviation: CPR, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

Figure 1 Map showing the contacted countries and their respective responses.

Notes: Yellow = nationwide protocol, orange = local protocols, red= no protocol, black = no answer and grey = not contacted.

Figure 2 Flowchart.