[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed by laymen--the Nord-Gudbrandsdal Project--circulatory arrest in sparsely populated regions].

Previous investigations from densely populated areas have shown that more patients with prehospital circulatory arrest caused by ischemic heart disease can be successfully treated by strengthening a chain of survival. This chain consists of immediate alarm followed by prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation and advanced medical support before transportation to hospital. This paper describes the methods used in the training of lay people in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as well as how ambulance personnel were trained to use a semiautomatic defibrillator. During the period 1987-89 11.7% of the inhabitants in Nord-Gudbrandsdal attended a course in heart lung resuscitation and all the ambulance personnel were trained and certified to use Heartstart 2000 semiautomatic defibrillators.