Volunteers trained in CPR and use of automated external defibrillators increased survival after out of hospital cardiac arrestPublic-access defibrillation and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Hallstrom AP, Ornato JP, Weisfeldt M, et al. Public-access defibrillation and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 637–46.HallstromAPOrnatoJPWeisfeldtMet alPublic-access defibrillation and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.N Engl J Med2004351637-46Q Do more patients with out of hospital cardiac arrest survive to hospital discharge when response teams of lay volunteers trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) also use automated external defibrillators (AEDs)?

For correspondence: Dr A Hallstrom, Public Access Defibrillation Clinical Trial Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. [email protected]

Sources of funding: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; Guidant Foundation; Medtronic. Devices supplied by Cardiac Science Survivalink; Medtronic Physio-Control; Philips Medical Systems Heartstream; Laerdal Medical.