Establishing a self-perpetuating American Heart Association/Advanced Cardiac Life Support program in West Germany

Sudden cardiac death is one of the major health problems in industrialized nations. The American Heart Association-sponsored Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) programs provide consensus training programs geared to teach local persons and health care providers the techniques of CPR and advanced life support, respectively. In April 1988, the staff of the U.S. Army Hospital Berlin conducted an ACLS provider course for German physicians. Fourteen students attended the first course; nine passed, and two did not complete the course. Two more courses have been completed. The enthusiasm expressed by the German physicians led to the nomination of one of the physicians for an associate faculty position, and plans for an instructor course of German physicians are under way.