Volunteer responders reach cardiac arrests faster than ever

Half of Denmark’s volunteer cardiac arrest responders reached a person in cardiac arrest within three minutes and 24 seconds, the fastest median response time on record, according to new figures reported by DR.

The figures cover the period from January 1 to September 30, 2026. In every case, at least one responder accepted the alert, and three out of four responders arrived within five minutes.

“It is the difference between life and death,” said Victor Kjærulf, a doctor and researcher with the Capital Region’s emergency medical services. “If nobody does anything within ten minutes, you die.”

The voluntary scheme has 61,300 responders nationwide, equal to 1.3 percent of the population aged over 18. Responders can provide first aid and bring a nearby defibrillator to the person who needs resuscitation.

Kjærulf said response times have fallen as the number of volunteers has grown, and could improve further if more people joined. “The dream is that everyone eventually has a neighbour who is a responder,” he said.

According to TrygFonden, 96 percent of people who survive cardiac arrest go on to live well, while four percent are left with severe neurological injuries.