The professional lifeguards in hospitals and in ambulances cannot be everywhere. Then a volunteer emergency assistant can be an alternative. Until now, it has not been known where such a volunteer is, but with a new app, the Hospital in Vestfold is testing out the use of volunteer helpers. After the test period of four months, this will probably be rolled out throughout Norway. 3,000 cardiac arrests in Norway – Time means almost everything, says head of department Vidar Ruddox at the Emergency Center in Tønsberg. When he is not at work, he is a volunteer emergency aid. He then logs on to an app, and his position appears on a map inside the AMK central. Should anything happen near him, he will be notified. It wasn’t like that before. Now he can also use his medical knowledge outside of work. HAPPY TO HELP: Ambulance chief Torbjørn Lia at the Hospital in Vestfold. Photo: Mette Stensholt Schau / news Cardiac arrest is a good example, says Ruddox. Each year, around 3,000 cases of cardiac arrest occur in Norway. – Then hands on the chest are quickly absolutely decisive for the outcome, he says. While the ambulance is driving, volunteer, trained helpers can help. Then both the hospital and the ambulance staff are updated when they reach the patient. – More than 200 such helpers have been trained in Vestfold alone, says the ambulance chief in Vestfold, Torbjørn Lia. He is very happy so far. In Denmark, volunteers have been used in this way for a long time. SEEING THE NEAREST ONE: At the AMK central, those who answer the phone can see where the nearest qualified helper is at any time. Photo: Mette Stensholt Schau / news Everyone should help CPR everyone should know, says Ruddox. Because everyone can help when breathing or heart stops. But the emergency helpers in the app can do much more. They have attended a course. HAS REGISTERED: Ronny Frantzen in Norwegian People’s Aid is happy to be able to contribute. Photo: Mette Stensholt Schau / news Ronny Frantzen is one of the volunteers from Norwegian People’s Aid. He has a car packed ready with stretchers, defibrillators and other necessities. – It feels good to contribute to society, Frantzen explains. He has not received a call himself yet, but has colleagues who have heard the alarm go off on the phone. DO YOU KNOW FIRST AID? BLÅS It is important that you can take life-saving measures as early as possible. There and then, you are the most important link in the chain that saves lives. The abbreviation BLÅS is an important rule to remember. It stands for: Consciousness – check if the person is conscious Airway – check if the person has free airways Breathing – check if the person is breathing Circulation – check if the person has major ongoing bleeding If any of these functions are threatened, you must call the medical emergency number 113 with once. You can either do this by calling 113 in the usual way or using the Hjelp 113 app (norskluftambulanse.no) which shows the 113 operator where you are. Source: Helsenorge.no Learn more here He says that they are often crew at various events. If something happens in the house next door, they can arrive before the ambulance. At least now the hospital knows where they are.
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An app shows where the nearest helper is – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
