The Heartsafe North-West Europe (NWE) project is launching in Galway, marking a transformative step in addressing Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) across Europe. This innovative initiative seeks to improve survival rates in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) cases by piloting a world-leading, community-based, first responder system, modelled after the successful Dutch approach. Croí, the Heart & Stroke Charity, is the Irish lead on the project, which is funded by the EU Interreg North-West Europe Programme.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) remains the third leading cause of death in Europe, with wide variations in survival rates across countries. The Netherlands reports a 45% survival rate, while Ireland, Germany, and Belgium trail with survival rates of 25%, 31%, and 26%, respectively. The Heartsafe NWE project aims to close this gap, enhancing the emergency response in participating regions.
World-Leading Dutch Model Piloted in Galway
Galway is one of three pilot sites for this project, alongside Leuven (Belgium) and the Health Region Cologne-Bonn (Germany), with the Dutch Heart Foundation in the role of lead partner, managing and coordinating all of the sites. The Galway pilot will test a Dutch-developed alert system which rapidly dispatches citizen first responders to the scene of a cardiac emergency.
Croí is specifically seeking local businesses, clubs, and organisations with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to register their AEDs on the pilot platform at www.heartbeatnow.ie .This AED mapping will be crucial for testing the system in a simulated environment. Additionally, we are calling on certified Cardiac First Responders (CFRs) in Galway, particularly members of CFR Groups, to register and take part in this vital pilot project.
What’s Involved
- Deploying a Test Version of the Dutch App: Galway will implement and test the app used successfully in the Netherlands to alert trained Community First Responders in the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, as part of a simulated situation.
- Registering AEDs: Businesses, clubs, and organisations across Galway City are encouraged to register their AEDs on the platform, helping to create a complete and functional map of AED coverage in the city.
- Engaging Certified Cardiac First Responders: Certified CFRs in Galway are invited to join the platform and participate in the simulation-based pilot, providing crucial feedback and data to improve the system and provide evidence-based recommendations.
This project is a pilot and will be tested as part of a planned and controlled simulation. It is not designed to replace existing emergency services and in the event of a medical emergency, individuals should call 999 or 112.
Community Involvement is Vital
The Heartsafe NWE project emphasises the importance of community engagement. In collaboration with Croí Heart & Stroke Charity, the Galway pilot will leverage local expertise to enhance community awareness of cardiac arrest, CPR and AED use. Croí, a leader in heart and stroke advocacy since 1985, brings decades of experience in cardiovascular health and community engagement to the project and is working with a range of stakeholders, including Community CFR Groups to develop this pilot.
Additional support comes from associate partners STAN Global, Galway City Council, and Phillips NL. Together, the aim is to improve community-first response capabilities in Galway and across Europe, saving lives and creating more resilient communities.
Looking Forward
Heartsafe NWE runs from 2023 to 2025. The goal is to not only increase OHCA survival rates by 10% in the pilot regions but to share key findings and insights with emergency services and health sector stakeholders. The outcomes of this pilot will help inform future systems and innovations in emergency response across North-West Europe and it is hoped that a longer term project will emerge from this initial pilot.
Join Us in Making Galway Heart Safe
Croí invites you to be part of this life-saving initiative by registering your AED at www.heartbeatnow.ie and becoming a registered first responder. Croí encourages anyone in the Galway area who has completed certified training in the last 2 years in CPR and AED use to register on the platform. Everyone who registers on the platform will be invited to take part in planned simulation exercises to test the app and gather important insights and feedback to help achieve the project aims.