In 2000 and 2001 physicians of the Medical Emergency Service (MES) resuscitated in the CR 12 861 adults, i.e. 125/100 000 population (on average 62.5/100 000 per year). Of these 5381, i.e. 41.80% were resuscitated successfully. During the same period 372 children (228 boys - 61.3%) aged under 14 years were resuscitated (on average 10.8/100 000 per year). Resuscitation of children under 14 years was successful in 231 cases, i.e. 62.1%. These data pertain to primary visits of MES (incl. flights of the airborn emergency service). While in adults the reason to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation is circulatory failure in ischaemic heart disease (1), the reasons for resuscitation in children were unknown. The authors addressed several MES and obtained 40 valid replies from all regions of the CR (i.e. 45% of the network of MES), among others they obtained information from territorial MES in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Zlín, Jihlava, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem. Almost no information was obtained from the south and west Bohemian regions, while there was almost complete information from MES from the whole of Moravia. In 2000 and 2001 the respondents resuscitated a total of 148 children (39.87% of all resuscitated subjects in the given period) incl. 90 boys (39.87%). Resuscitation was successful in 86 children (i.e. 58.1%). As reasons for resuscitation the respondents report (listed by frequency): drowning (23.5%), polytrauma (18.5%), inflammatory obstruction of the respiratory pathways (14.2%), arrhythmia and asphyxia in children with congenital heart disease (10.1%), choking - strangulation, aspiration (8.4%), craniocerebral injuries (8.1%), sudden death syndrome in infants (7%), unconsciousness (4.5%), intoxication (4.5%). Other causes were rare (sepsis, metabolic breakdown, gun shot injury) or the reason for resuscitation was not given. Serious injuries and drowning combined account for more than 50% of urgent resuscitation. Primary „cardiogenic“ reasons account for more than 10%.

        Key words: Czech Republic, years 2000 and 2001, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children, prehospitalization urgent care