Emergency response dispatchers in Rhode Island seldom instruct callers on how to perform CPR, which could save hundreds more cardiac arrest victims annually, according to ProPublica.
Rhode Island's Operations and Procedures Manual for 911 centers "highly recommends" dispatchers stay on calls to provide medical instruction, although they are not specially trained to share CPR instructions via phone, according to the report.
Every other state in New England has certified emergency medical dispatchers handle calls involving cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies. These dispatchers receive training and scripted instructions for how to walk a caller through performing CPR over the phone.
In 2018, Rhode Island EMS agencies treated nearly 1,200 people experiencing cardiac arrest outside the hospital, according to health department data cited by ProPublica. About 1 in 10 people who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive in Rhode Island. Health experts told ProPublica this figure could double or triple if dispatchers received more training to help bystanders administer CPR sooner.
To view ProPublica's full report, click here.