Finland reviews emergency care strategy and role of volunteer responders
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is preparing a national emergency care strategy that will assess the role of layperson responders within Finland’s emergency medical services. The review comes as the country evaluates ways to improve emergency response, particularly in remote areas where professional help may be delayed.
Volunteer responder groups, which previously assisted in emergencies, were discontinued in April following a remark from the Licensing and Supervisory Authority (Valvira). These groups had been active in sparsely populated regions, where long distances can hinder rapid emergency response. Their operations were halted due to regulatory concerns, and resuming such activities would require a legislative amendment.
Denmark serves as an example of a country where emergency dispatch centers can alert trained layperson resuscitators to assist in critical situations before professional help arrives. The Finnish strategy will examine whether similar models could be implemented or adapted within the country’s legal framework (Yle, MTV Uutiset).