Zottegem and Oosterhout launch community resuscitation training

Local health initiatives in Zottegem, Belgium, and Oosterhout, Netherlands, are focusing on increasing community preparedness for cardiac emergencies through specialized training.

In Zottegem, the city is offering free resuscitation lessons to all sixth-grade primary school students as part of the ‘Hartveilig Zottegem’ initiative. Organized in collaboration with ‘Reanimatie op School’, the program teaches children how to respond to cardiac arrest or choking. Students who complete the training receive a life-saving skills diploma. The city also plans to offer free resuscitation and AED training to residents in 2027 to expand its network of responders.

In Oosterhout, the ‘Oosterhout Hartveilig’ organization is hosting a one-evening course on October 14 focused on CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The session is designed for individuals without medical background to learn how to act during a circulatory arrest. The course costs 25 euros, though participants are encouraged to check if their health insurance providers offer reimbursement.