In Germany, an average of around 65,000 people suffer a cardiovascular arrest every year. And it can happen to anyone - regardless of age, gender or fitness level. Those affected often die mainly because they are not helped in time before the emergency doctor or ambulance arrive.
We want to change this with "Herzsicher". As part of the initiative, we are entering into partnerships with regions to make them "heart-safe". In concrete terms, this means providing one AED device per 1,000 inhabitants. We also offer regular training courses in lay resuscitation for the population in participating districts.
The first early defibrillation devices (AED) come onto the market in 1976. We buy the first AED device on 22 April 1977 and hand it over to the non-medical rescue service in Ludwigsburg. The initiative initially fails due to resistance from the medical profession and authorities.
They insist that life-saving early defibrillation may only be carried out by doctors. It was not until May 2001 that the German Medical Association recommended defibrillation by laypersons using automated external defibrillators (AED).
