Bielefeld: Students and citizens are likely to set a world record in resuscitation

Seven days and seven nights of chest compressions without a break: a new world record for resuscitation has probably been set in Bielefeld. For 168 hours, students, clubs and citizens revived a resuscitation doll without interruption. This means that the previous world record has been significantly exceeded - but official confirmation by the Record Institute for Germany is still pending.

Long lines had formed all week because so many people took part in the event. The action ended as planned on Monday night.

The world record attempt in the Franziskus Hospital in Bielefeld took place as part of the nationwide week of resuscitation. The aim of the campaign week was to allay people's fear of starting chest compressions immediately in an emergency. Because every minute without resuscitation significantly reduces the affected patient's chances of survival.

Chief physician: Resuscitation saves lives

“In an emergency, every second counts. That's why we all have to be able to use simple life-saving actions without any inhibitions - even before the emergency services arrive," said chief physician Niels Rahe-Meyer, the initiator of the world record attempt.

While school classes were primarily responsible for resuscitating the doll during the day, teams from clinics, emergency services and aid organizations were also on duty at night.

With the new record, the Franziskus Hospital has surpassed a world record that was set just a few weeks ago: According to the Record Institute for Germany, in Schwerin, more than 870 people performed chest compressions on a mannequin non-stop for 128 hours at the beginning of September.

Many more people could survive cardiac arrest

According to experts, up to 140,000 people in Germany suffer a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year. Many could be saved if relatives, friends or colleagues react correctly and, above all, immediately. But so far only about one in ten survives.