Table 1.
Description of management of citizen responder programmes across European regions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Country Region |
Activation unchanged | Activation with restrictions | Activation temporarily paused | Are changes made in management during the second wave of COVID-19? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic Hradec Kralove Region |
Activation temporarily paused. | Yes, activation was not paused, but dispatched citizens were instructed to follow the new ERC COVID-19 guidelines. | ||
| Denmark The Capital Region |
Compression-only CPR. Do not accept alarm if your daily work is essential for the community or you are in a risk group for COVID-19. Use glows and disinfect/wash hands before and after resuscitation. |
No | ||
| England South Central Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust |
Mandatory to use Level 3 PPE to perform airway procedure. Responders wear Level 2 and should therefore put cloth or similar over patient’s mouth and nose when performing CPR and use AED. | No | ||
| Germany Marburg-Biedenkopf |
Activation temporarily paused. | No | ||
| Hungary | Compression-only CPR. Do not check for breathing, only check for signs of life from the side of the patient. |
No | ||
| Ireland | Activation temporarily paused. | No | ||
| Italy Emilia Romagna |
Compression-only CPR, except for children and hypoxic cardiac arrests. Surgical mask, cloth or similar over patient’s mouth. |
No | ||
| Italy Lombardia |
Activation temporarily paused. | No | ||
| The Netherlands | Compression-only CPR for unknown COVID-19 status. If COVID-19 is confirmed or suspected, CPR is not recommended, only attach and use an AED. Citizen responders >50 years of age are not dispatched. |
No | ||
| Romania (Bucharest) | Compression-only CPR for unknown COVID-19 status. If COVID-19 is confirmed or suspected, compression-only CPR, except for children. Mask is recommended. |
No | ||
| Scotland | Activation temporarily paused. | No | ||
| Sweden Stockholm, Västra Götaland, Sörmland, Östergötland, Västmanland |
Activation temporarily paused. | No | ||
| Sweden Blekinge, Kronoberg |
Compression-only CPR if COVID-19 is confirmed or suspected, except for children and hypoxic cardiac arrests. Standard CPR guidelines if COVID-19 is not suspected. |
No | ||
| Switzerland Ticino, Berne, Fribourg |
Activation temporarily paused. | Yes, currently all systems are active. * |
AED, automated external defibrillator; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; PPE, personal protective equipment. *Countries or regions where an increase in COVID-19 cases (a second wave) has not yet been detected.