To reduce intervention times during cardiac arrest, the Province of Luxembourg is launching the pilot project Lux First Responder on October 16, World Restart a Heart Day. Developed in partnership with several emergency medical aid stakeholders, this system relies on a mobile application to quickly alert volunteer health professionals located near the victim.
The first minutes following a cardiac arrest are crucial. With the Lux First Responder project, the Province of Luxembourg aims to reduce the 'medical free interval,' meaning the time between calling for help and the victim being attended to by a trained responder. The system is run in partnership with the Federal Public Service Health, the Governor of the Province of Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Rescue Zone, and the 112 emergency center.
When a cardiac arrest is reported to 112, an alert is automatically sent via the REANIM application to First Responders within a 5 km radius of the victim. After accepting the intervention, the volunteer is guided to the emergency location. Their mission includes performing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and, when possible, using a semi-automatic defibrillator while awaiting institutional emergency services.
The system operates 24/7. However, alerted individuals are free to accept or decline an intervention based on their availability and situation.
The launch of Lux First Responder is a continuation of the work carried out by the Province of Luxembourg on emergency medical aid and is part of LUX response, its program to strengthen risk awareness. A provincial study conducted in 2018 highlighted the value of new technologies in enhancing remote action capabilities and reducing pre-medical care response times. A scientific study in 2022 also noted a medical free interval longer than the federal average in the province of Luxembourg.
Initially, the project targets paramedics from the Luxembourg Rescue Zone, paramedics from the province working in other provinces, paramedics from the Belgian Red Cross, as well as 112-badged nurses and volunteer doctors.
This pilot phase will run from October 16, 2026, to September 30, 2027. Activations and interventions will be monitored to evaluate the system's effectiveness and added value. An initial evaluation is planned after about fifty activations, followed by a comprehensive assessment at the end of the first year.
Ultimately, the project could be extended to other health professionals as well as volunteer citizens with certified first aid training.
The REANIM application is available for download on mobile platforms.
