How You Can Help Save Lives as a Heart Runner in Denmark

You can help save lives in Denmark by becoming a volunteer heart runner. The scheme is called Hjerteløbere in Danish. It is managed by TrygFonden to boost public safety. Mid-2026 data shows that over 61,000 adults are registered. That is 1.3 percent of the adult population in Denmark.

The scheme sends mobile phone alerts to nearby volunteers when someone has a cardiac arrest. Volunteers receive a GPS location of the patient. They also get directions to the closest defibrillator. In the first half of 2026, volunteers arrived in three and a half minutes on average. Ambulances usually take eight to nine minutes.

Brain cells start to die after three to five minutes without blood. Doctor Victor Kjærulf from the capital region emergency services stressed the importance of speed. About 5,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside hospitals in Denmark each year. That is roughly 14 people every day.

To register, you must be over 18 years old. You must know how to perform CPR. You also need a smartphone to download the Hjerteløber app. The app is available in English. However, understanding basic Danish helps when talking to emergency crews. Emergency services alert the 20 closest volunteers for each incident. There is no penalty if you cannot respond. You can also register a defibrillator on the Hjertestarter app. The story was reported by The Local.