The Northern Ireland Community Resuscitation Team (CRT) is part of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, dedicated to saving lives of those suffering a cardiac arrest.
The Northern Ireland Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) Strategy aims to improve survival rates, with the UK national target is set at 10% survival rate to hospital discharge within 30 days from an OHCA. While this is an important target, our ambition is to go further, ensuring that even more people in Northern Ireland have the best chance of survival.
Our team is made up of experienced clinicians, who have seen first-hand the difference early intervention can make. We use this experience to guide our work and to inspire communities to act.
As a team, we focus on:
- Community Education – teaching lifesaving skills to sports teams, community groups and associations.
- Community Events – engaging with the public and raising awareness.
- Community First Responders (CFRs) – supporting volunteers who provide lifesaving care before Emergency Ambulances arrives.
- Community of Lifesavers – training and supporting key stage 3 teachers with the ability to provide CPR lessons to their students.
- Research – learning from outcomes to improve training and practice.
- In-house training – equipping non-clinical NIAS staff with lifesaving knowledge and confidence.
- Promotion of GoodSAM, Public Access Defibrillators (PADs), and the Chain of Survival – ensuring technology and equipment are used to their fullest potential.
- Survival Stories – promoting those that have survived an OHCA
Why It Matters
Every year in Northern Ireland, around 1400–1500 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Sadly, fewer than 1 in 10 survive to hospital discharge.
The Northern Ireland OHCA Strategy recognises this challenge and sets out a vision to improve outcomes, aiming to meet the UK target of a 10% survival rate. As a team, we believe Northern Ireland can and must go further.
Behind every statistic is a family member, a colleague, a friend. The evidence tells us that lives can be saved if we act quickly. That’s why the Community Resuscitation Team works tirelessly to:
- Build confidence through training
- Increase access to defibrillators
- Support research and shared learning
- Strengthen every link in the Chain of Survival
Our goal is simple: to give more people in Northern Ireland the best chance not just to survive, but to return home.
Our Challenge
When someone’s heart stops, every second matters. Survival depends on the strength of the Chain of Survival:
- Early recognition of cardiac arrest
- Immediate, effective CPR
- Quick access to a defibrillator (AED)
- Rapid arrival of emergency services
If these steps happen quickly, survival is possible. If they don’t, opportunities are lost.
Research
Research carried out in Northern Ireland has highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities we face:
- OHCA survival in NI has historically remained below the UK average, but local data shows that bystander CPR rates are improving.
- The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service OHCA Registry has demonstrated that patients are significantly more likely to survive when CPR is started immediately and an AED is used before the ambulance arrives.
- Community First Responder (CFR) schemes have been shown to provide vital, early treatment and improve the chances of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
- Studies have confirmed that public awareness campaigns and training initiatives directly increase willingness to attempt CPR and use a defibrillator.
Our Mission
To go beyond national survival targets by strengthening every link in the Chain of Survival through education, community partnerships, innovation and the dedication of trained responders across Northern Ireland.