Training of Rescue Personnel in Closed-Chest Cardiac Resuscitation

THE development of closed-chest cardiac resuscitation has given a second chance at life to many victims of sudden cardiac arrest in hospitals throughout the world.1 2 3 4 The extension of this second chance to cases occurring outside the hospital, however, has not followed as rapidly as some had initially anticipated.5 Although a physician occasionally witnesses an episode of cardiac arrest outside the hospital, more often he cannot reach the victim and attempt resuscitation within the time limit imposed by cerebral anoxia. Nonmedical rescue personnel are frequently available in time, but dissemination of cardiac-resuscitation technics to these groups has been impeded by the . . .