Variability in the structure and operation of out-of-hospital emergency services in Spain. Spanish Registry of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Epidemiological characteristics and factors associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest attended by bystanders before ambulance arrival

“…It is noteworthy that telephone instructions are the variable that most seems to influence the initiation of CPR without waiting for the arrival of the emergency services, since it is the only independent predictor that has the possibility of intervention. The need/opportunity that the telephone instructions offer to guide CPR has been known for decades 16 , although in Spain it was not until 2015 when the first recommendations for telephone support to CPR from the emergency coordination centres was agreed 17 , although, by then some EMS already had specific internal protocols 18 . In fact, telephone instructions appear to still be in the process of consolidation, in view of the discrete rate of guided CPR shown in our study.…”