Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Dec 2005
[Resuscitation by laypersons: lack of knowledge of first-aid measures in Germany].
Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death. In Germany, only 10% of patients will survive reanimation. The prognosis is mainly determined by the first-aid skills of accidental witnesses. ⋯ These representative data suggest that (a) ABC-like first-aid rules are largely unknown among the population; (b) the value of a stable lateral position is overestimated and (c) first-aid skills of elderly persons are worst. A significant improvement of first-aid skills of the German population is mandatory in order to improve in future the outcome of sudden cardiac death.