Recognizing the critical importance of the first minutes following a cardiac arrest, the Province of Luxembourg, in partnership with the Federal Public Service Health, the Governor of Luxembourg province, the Luxembourg Rescue Zone, and the 112 emergency center, is launching the pilot project Lux First Responder. This initiative aims to enable the fastest possible intervention before emergency services arrive.
This initiative is part of the Province of Luxembourg's ongoing efforts in urgent medical aid and the LUX response program. It follows a 2018 study on urgent medical aid, which recommended using new technologies to enhance remote action capabilities and reduce medical care delays. A 2022 scientific study also highlighted a longer-than-average free medical interval in the province.
The REANIM application aims to shorten this free medical interval by mobilizing volunteer healthcare professionals located near the victim. When a cardiac arrest is reported to 112, an alert is automatically sent via the REANIM app to First Responders within a 5-kilometer radius. The system relies on an integrated operational chain between the 112 emergency center, the COZILUX of the Luxembourg Rescue Zone, and the REANIM application.
Once an alert is accepted, the First Responder is guided by the app to the intervention site. Their mission includes performing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation if necessary and, when available, using a semi-automatic defibrillator while awaiting institutional emergency services. In this initial phase, the program targets paramedic-rescuers from the Luxembourg Rescue Zone, those working in other provinces, paramedic-rescuers from the Belgian Red Cross, as well as 112-badged nurses and volunteer doctors. Responders are free to accept or decline an intervention.
The pilot project is planned for an initial period of one year, from October 16, 2026, to September 30, 2027. This phase will allow for monitoring the system's operation, usage, and added value, analyzing intervention times and reasons for non-intervention. A second phase could integrate other healthcare professionals and certified first aid volunteers into the application.
