What do we do?

Our main goal is to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to as many secondary school students as possible. In order to reach this goal, our instructors visit schools to provide a short course during which the students are taught the most essential skills. Needless to say, we think not only students, but everybody should know CPR. That is why we also provide courses to anyone else who is interested. Lastly, we participate in all kinds of local and national activities concerning resuscitation in an effort to increase public attention for circulatory arrest and CPR. During these activities, the importance of CPR courses at school is our main point of attention. We do not have a commercial incentive for any of our activities. Click on the navigation bar above for more information about schools, other courses and other activities. These pages have not been translated (yet), so you will have to use Google Translate or ask a Dutch friend.

Why do we do it?

There are about 130 cases of people receiving CPR every week (outside of the hospital). In other words: that is quite often! During a circulatory arrest without any resuscitation, chances of survival decrease by 10% every minute. Therefore, it is essential that bystanders can provide immediate help. It is also very important that enough people sign up to HartslagNu, the resuscitation volunteer network in the Netherlands. This way bystanders performing CPR can be relieved quickly and an AED will be on site as soon as possible. All these factors significantly increase the chances of survival without severe residual symptoms.

Our focus lies on secondary school students, because they are able to learn new skills without much effort. Furthermore, a skill learnt at a young age lasts a lifetime. By starting CPR education with students, a whole generation and eventually the entire population can perform this skill. Lastly, the practical CPR courses are a welcome addition to the theoretical secondary school curriculum. Attention to healthcare and reflection on the end of life are additional valuable parts of these courses at schools.

Who are we?

Taskforce QRS (Qualitative Resuscitation by Students) consists primarily of university students. Most of these are medical students. We are supported both locally and nationally by professors and other experts. The idea to let medical university students provide CPR courses for secondary school students has originated in Maastricht in 2004. By now, more than 15,000 students are being educated each year. This is being realised from our seven local organisations in Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht, Nijmegen, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

How you can help

As we do not have a commercial incentive, any financial help is welcome. You can donate by clicking HERE.

You can also help by starting a similar project in your own country or region. Several initiatives have already been realised. If you are planning on doing the same, you can always contact us for suggestions and to hear our experiences.