Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) Case Definition
To best fit the CARES OCHA case definition, “ A non-traumatic out-ofhospital cardiac arrest where resuscitation is attempted by a 911 responder
(CPR and/or defibrillation). This also includes patients that receive an AED
shock by a bystander prior to the arrival of 911 responders,” the following
criteria were applied to EMS runs:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Cardiac Arrest During EMS Event is equal to “ Yes, After EMS
Arrival” or “Yes, Prior to EMS Arrival;”
Cardiac Arrest Etiology is not equal to “Trauma;”
Resuscitation Attempted by EMS is not equal to “Not AttemptedBiological Death Criteria Met,” “Not Attempted-DNR Orders,” or
“Not Attempted-Signs of Circulation;”
Incident Patient Disposition is not equal to “Canceled (Prior to
Arrival At Scene),” “Canceled on Scene (No Patient Contact),”
Canceled on Scene(No Patient Found),” “Interfacility transport –
CCT” or “Patient Dead at Scene-No Resuscitation Attempted
(DOA);”
Scene Incident Location Type is not equal to “Hospital.”

Bystander CPR Case Definition
When OCHA criteria was met, an EMS run was considered to include
bystander CPR if it included the following:
1.
CPR Care Provided Prior to EMS Arrival is equal to “Yes;”
2. Who Provided CPR Prior to EMS Arrival is not equal to “First
Responders (Fire, Law, EMS)” or “Other EMS Professional (not part of
the dispatched response).”

 Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests, Rhode Island 2018
Total (Prior to Applying CARES Criteria)

N
1,37
5

Total (After Applying CARES Criteria)
CPR Care Provided Prior to EMS Arrival

884

Bystander CPR

328

No Bystander CPR

415

Not Applicable/Not Recorded/Missing
Who Provided CPR Prior to EMS Unit's Arrival (N=328)*

141

(%)
(100
)
(37.
1)
(47.
0)
(16.
0)

(21.
7)
(11.
Lay Person (Non-Family)
37
3)
(28.
Healthcare Professional (Non-EMS)
92
1)
(39.
First Responder (Fire, Law, EMS)
129
3)
Other EMS Professional (not part of dispatched response)
7
(2.1)
*Categories are not mutually exclusive; multiple types of bystander may preform CPR on
one patient.
Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests, Rhode Island 2018
N
(%)
1,37
Total (Prior to Applying CARES Criteria)
5
(100
Total (After Applying CARES Criteria)
884
)
Bystander CPR Prior to EMS Arrival
(22.
Bystander CPR
198
4)
(61.
No Bystander CPR
545
7)
Not Applicable/Not Recorded/Missing
141
(16.
0)
Family Member

This table includes First
Responders and Other EMS
Professionals who provide CPR
prior to EMS Unit's Arrival as
Bystanders.

71

This table excludes First
Responders and Other EMS
Professionals who provide CPR
prior to EMS Unit's Arrival as
Bystanders.

 Who Provided CPR Prior to EMS Arrival (N=198)*
(36.
Family Member
71
2)
(18.
Lay Person (Non-Family)
37
9)
(46.
Healthcare Professional (Non-EMS)
92
9)
*Categories are not mutually exclusive; multiple types of bystander may preform CPR on
one patient.