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Finland's Defibrillator Locator Service Faces Closure Over Funding Crisis
🇫🇮 Finland /Health & Science

Finland's Defibrillator Locator Service Faces Closure Over Funding Crisis

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The location service for defibrillators in Finland, operated by the Finnish Heart Association, faces an uncertain future due to funding issues.
  • The service, defi.fi, helps users find nearby defibrillators and is used by approximately 100,000 people annually.
  • Funding challenges have persisted since 2022, with previous support from Stea ending and well-being regions declining responsibility, leaving the service reliant on donations and temporary grants.

Finland's vital service for locating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is at risk of shutting down due to ongoing funding problems. The defi.fi website, maintained by the Finnish Heart Association, allows anyone to easily find the exact locations of AEDs, with the data also integrated into the 112 Suomi mobile application.

Yes, this is a real threat. Of course, we at the Heart Association hope it doesn't happen.

— Mari Blek-VehkaluotoExpressing concern about the potential closure of the defibrillator location service.

Approximately 100,000 people use the service each year. While funding issues are not new, the situation has become critical. Until 2022, the service was funded by the Centre for Grants for Social and Health Organizations (Stea). However, Stea announced that responsibility for funding should transfer to the well-being regions. These regions, in turn, stated that it is not a statutory task, forcing the Heart Association to seek funds elsewhere.

The well-being regions, in turn, announced that it is not a statutory task. Money has therefore had to be sought elsewhere.

— Mari Blek-VehkaluotoExplaining the shift in funding responsibility and the subsequent challenges.

This year's funding was partially secured through parliamentary Christmas gift funds and significant donations. However, Mari Blek-Vehkaluoto, an expert in heart safety at the Heart Association, expressed concern about securing funding for the next year. "We spend a lot of resources finding funders, when the same time could be used to develop heart safety," she stated. The association will make a final decision in the autumn about whether to continue the service, for which an annual cost of around 50,000 euros is estimated, primarily for ensuring data accuracy.

We spend a lot of resources finding funders, when the same time could be used to develop heart safety.

— Mari Blek-VehkaluotoHighlighting the administrative burden of fundraising.

Both the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) and the Finnish Resuscitation Council emphasize the importance of AEDs. Minna Sihvo, an SPR expert, highlighted that survival from cardiac arrest is impossible without the help of another person and that AEDs can save dozens of lives when used correctly. "This of course requires that one knows how and dares to use the defibrillator. For this to succeed, the defibrillator must first be found," Sihvo noted. The challenge of locating an AED, especially in an unfamiliar area, remains significant if the service ceases to exist. Sihvo advises everyone to find out in advance where the nearest AED is located.

We are heading in a worrying direction if the location service is not continued.

— Minna SihvoEmphasizing the critical importance of the service for public safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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