First Aid Newsletter

The German emergency medical service operates at the limit of its capacity: The planned GKV contribution rate stabilization massively jeopardizes financing, while structural overload leads to staff attrition. Federal quality disparities and increasing trivial cases aggravate the situation, with aid organizations (DRK, Johanniter, Malteser) calling for far-reaching reforms.

Societal developments lead to a drastic increase in unnecessary callouts: Lack of first aid knowledge, insufficient civic courage, and isolation of elderly people (fewer family networks, no house-call doctors) drive panic and unnecessary emergency calls. Johanniter and Malteser report call volumes that lead to staff shortages.

The European Resuscitation Council updated guidelines in 2025, particularly regarding the two-thumb technique for infants during chest compressions. First aid courses must be adapted, while discussions continue on the validity and recognition of courses for driving licenses and professional purposes.

France launches drone deployment to deliver defibrillators in cardiac arrest cases (Samu 76), while in the USA new AEDs are being installed nationwide in public locations (community centers, workplaces). These measures demonstrate: early defibrillation (within minutes) doubles to triples survival chances.

Community discussions reveal a lack of first aid knowledge and civic courage as a fundamental problem: bystander CPR, AED use, and psychosocial first aid are critical for survival chances, but are underestimated by society. Johanniter, DRK, and Malteser are expanding course programs, but penetration remains low.