Prior to 2016, the Rescue Service went out on several types of Prio-1 alarms to help with life-sustaining efforts before the ambulance arrived. Now, only three criteria apply for the Rescue Service to go: cardiac arrest, large external bleeding and threatened airway. The emergency services go on these if the ambulance is longer than ten minutes away from the patient.

The efforts made no use purely medically

The change occurred, according to Christer Lagerberg, acting chief operating officer for the ambulance and 1177 in Värmland, because there was no evidence that the interventions were useful - purely medical.

But in three Värmland municipalities: Arvika, Eda and Säffle as well as in the resorts Ekshärad and Lesjöfors - the municipality goes in and pays extra to allow the Rescue Service to raise significantly more alarms. The municipality of Säffle spends around SEK 100,000 annually for the Rescue Service to go on all Prio-one alarms. Last year, the Rescue Service from the stations in Säffle, Nykroppa and Nysäter went on 126 IVPA alarms.

- If you can save lives, it's always worth it, says Dag Rogne (C).