A Monte Carlo Simulation Model to Assess Volunteer Response Times in a Public Access Defibrillation Scheme in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a model to assess the distribution of response times for mobile volunteers of a public access defibrillation (PAD) scheme in Northern Ireland. Using parameters based on a trial period, the model predicts that a PAD volunteer would arrive before the emergency medical services (EMS) to 18.8% of events to which they are paged in a given year period. This is in agreement with what has actually been observed during the trial period (where volunteers have actually reached 15% of events before the EMS), and thus assisting validation of the model. Results from this model illustrate how ongoing volunteer commitment is key to the success of the scheme