Register with the Heerlen Resuscitation Network

It is important that people provide the right help as quickly as possible in the event of cardiac arrest: call 911, start CPR, and use an AED. Quick help makes the difference between life and death.

What is needed for rapid assistance?

Every minute counts in the event of cardiac arrest. That is why, in addition to an ambulance, the emergency response center always calls on volunteers from the neighborhood: citizen responders. They provide rapid assistance using AEDs from the surrounding area. We coordinate this with the Heerlen Resuscitation Network.

How does the Heerlen Resuscitation Network work?

Volunteers can register with the Heerlen Resuscitation Network as citizen responders. If someone suffers a cardiac arrest, responders in the vicinity of the victim receive a call from the emergency services control room. They are then given the location of an AED in the area and the code to open the protective cabinet. With this AED, they can quickly provide the right assistance. It is therefore important that there are as many citizen responders and AEDs spread across the city as possible.

Do you not yet have a valid CPR certificate?

Would you like to become a member of the Heerlen Resuscitation Network? If so, you are eligible to take a resuscitation course. We organize these courses in collaboration with our partners. The course covers resuscitation techniques, including the use of an AED. You can register via hartveilig.nl. The course fees will be reimbursed if:

• you are a resident of Heerlen,
• successfully completes the course and
• you register as a citizen responder.

What is an AED?

An AED delivers electric shocks in the event of cardiac arrest. This is intended to restart the heart. Would you like more information about AED devices? Please visit the website of the American Heart Association.

Who is permitted to use your AED?

Are you offering your AED to the network? Then you can of course continue to use your AED yourself. But the first responders in our network will also be able to use it. When they receive a call, they will be given a code to open the protective cabinet. This way, we can save even more lives together.

Who pays for the costs of using the AED?

It is important that emergency responders always have access to the AED. Therefore, choose an outdoor protective cabinet. This way, the AED can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will receive a subsidy from the municipality for the purchase of this cabinet.
Has your AED been used? Then you can claim the costs of making your AED ready for use again from Ambulancezorg Limburg. For more information, please visit the Ambulancezorg website
Other costs, such as insurance, maintenance, and installation costs, are borne by the owner of the AED.

Requirements registering as a citizen responder:

• you are at least 18 years old
• you have a cell phone 

Requirements offering an AED:

• You have an AED. This can be as a private individual, company, association, or organization.
• You hang your AED outside in a protective cabinet.

Citizen Assistance

Learn more about the 6-minute zone