The number that can save lives

Prevention Burson-Marsteller in Bern wants to make the emergency number 144 better known.heart failure is the fastest growing cardiovascular disease. Around 150,000 people in Switzerland suffer from it. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The epidemic extent of the problem will only become fully apparent in the coming years. If a person's heart suddenly stops, this means death outside hospital in nine out of ten cases today. Even in the case of a stroke, too much time is usually lost before a person is admitted to hospital. The Swiss Heart Foundation has therefore launched a nationwide lifesaving program under the patronage of the Federal Office of Public Health, the Swiss Medical Association and the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Health Directors. As a first campaign, Burson-Marsteller has produced two TV commercials in Berne that publicize the emergency number 144 in a memorable way.
Andreas Panzeri