German cardiac arrest response and awareness initiatives

Efforts to improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest response in Germany have progressed from local technological initiatives to national awareness campaigns.

In the Neuwied district, the ‘ProHerzschlag’ mobile application was launched to alert registered first responders to nearby emergencies, facilitating the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) before professional services arrive. This local rollout follows data from the 2025 German Resuscitation Register, which noted that approximately 130,000 people suffer cardiac arrests annually in Germany and that the rate of first responder assistance has remained stable at 53.5 percent.

Building on the need for improved survival rates, Germany scheduled ‘Resuscitation Week’ for late September. Supported by the Federal Ministry of Health, the initiative promotes the ‘Check – Call – Press’ method to encourage citizen intervention. National statistics indicate that while over 120,000 cardiac arrests occur annually, survival rates remain low at approximately ten percent. Public preparedness challenges persist, as surveys show only 15% of citizens feel “very secure” performing chest compressions.