CPR and the single rescuer: at what age should you "call first" rather than "call fast"?

Abstract

To determine whether the age-related frequency of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in cardiac arrest supports the guideline that single rescuers should "call first" for all victims of sudden collapse older than 8 years. Analysis of data on all nontraumatic cardiac arrests treated by emergency medical service (EMS) personnel in King County, Washington, between 1976 and 1992. Age, initial cardiac rhythm, witnessed versus unwitnessed status, whether patient was discharged alive. We analyzed 10,992 cardiac arrests. Initial rhythm was VF in 4,252 (40%) and non-VF in 6,740 (60%). VF frequencies were 3% (0 to 8 years old), 17% (8 to 30 years), and 42% (30 years or older). Most patients under age 30 were not in VF at the time of EMS evaluation. Our data suggest that a "call fast" strategy may be more effective when a single rescuer is present and the victim is between 8 and 30 years old.