Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest - A Strategy for Scotland Review 2015 - 16

Conclusions

Together, the OHCA Strategy partners have progressed all of the OHCA Strategy Aims. It is known that the maximum impact on survival and best outcomes will be achieved by early and correct intervention in response to OHCA. This is the reason delivery of the OHCA Strategy is deliberately weighted to actions at the left side of the Chain of Survival. Most activity in the first year has been in these first four links in the chain: readiness; early recognition; CPR and defibrillation. CPR awareness and training activities have been developed and delivered by utilising and adding to existing work by partner organisations with new and existing community groups.

There has been a positive response from the public, with much progress made and the establishment of a firm basis from which to sustain, progress and expand on the success. The next phase will prioritise engaging with, and training young people in CPR, and a number of schools are already enthusiastic. Building links with communities who have disproportionately poorer outcomes from OHCA, in order to more rapidly increase skills and awareness, is a priority for 2017.