"A Time to Act"--Anaesthesiologists in resuscitation help save 200,000 lives per year worldwide: School children, lay resuscitation, telephone-CPR, IOM and more

Education of schoolchildren in cardiopulmonary resuscitation - overview of the current literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Recognition of cardiac arrest and initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be learned and adequately replicated by schoolchildren. Regular instruction of schoolchildren in CPR is therefore a core element to increase low bystander CPR rates. Thereby, schoolchildren CPR training evolved as own scientific field within the last decade. Aim was to describe current evidence in terms of epidemiology, teaching approaches and political aspects.

RECENT FINDINGS

Schoolchildren demonstrate a high motivation to be trained in CPR. Teaching approaches that combine theoretical and practical learning sessions guarantee a sustainable learning effect. Schoolchildren can adequately perform chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth ventilation from the age of 12 years. Use of digital media is a highly promising teaching approach. CPR training conducted by teachers from the own school is effective and guarantees continuous development of CPR skills. Integration of schoolchildren CPR training into school curricula is the foundation for a sustainable increase of lay resuscitation rates in the population. Scientific and political promotion of schoolchildren CPR training is needed to sensitize the population and move bystander CPR in the social focus.

SUMMARY

While bystander CPR rates are low in Europe comprehensive establishment of schoolchildren CPR training may sustainably increase survival after cardiac arrest.

Factors and Barriers on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Willingness to Use among the Community: A 2016-2021 Systematic Review and Data Synthesis

Background

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival. However, bystander CPR and AED rates remained consistently low. The goal of this systematic review was to assess factors influencing community willingness to perform CPR and use an AED for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival (OHCA) victims, as well as its barriers.

Methods

The review processes (PROSPERO: CRD42021257851) were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) review protocol; formulation of review questions; systematic search strategy based on identification, screening, and eligibility using established databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline Complete via EBSCOhost; quality appraisal; and data extraction and analysis. There is identification of full-text journal articles that were published between 2016 and 2021 and written in English.

Results

Of the final 13 articles, there are six identified factors associated with willingness to perform CPR and use an AED, including socio-demographics, training, attitudes, perceived norms, self-efficacy, and legal obligation. Younger age, men, higher level of education, employed, married, having trained in CPR and AED in the previous 5 years, having received CPR education on four or more occasions, having a positive attitude and perception toward CPR and AED, having confidence to perform CPR and to apply an AED, and legal liability protection under emergency medical service law were reasons why one would be more likely to indicate a willingness to perform CPR and use an AED. The most reported barriers were fear of litigation and injuring a victim.

Conclusions

There is a need to empower all the contributing factors and reduce the barrier by emphasizing the importance of CPR and AEDs. The role played by all stakeholders should be strengthened to ensure the success of intervention programs, and indirectly, that can reduce morbidity and mortality among the community from OHCA.

Development and Validation of a Novel Ultra-Compact and Cost-Effective Device for Basic Hands-On CPR Training: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Blinded Trial

To examine the performance of a novel low-cost, ultra-compact, and attractive auditory feedback device for training laypeople in external chest compressions (ECCs), we conducted a quasi-experimental cross-sectional study from September to November 2021 at the Faculty of Nursing of Albacete, University of Castille-La Mancha, Spain. The ECC sequence was performed in the laboratory with the new device for basic hands-on CPR training. Results: One hundred college students were included in this study. The compression rate/min with the new device was 97.6, and the adequate %ECC was 52.4. According to the status of body mass index (BMI) and muscle strength of the upper limbs in the bivariate analysis, it was observed that the new device discriminated between those who performed correct ECCs according to their BMI and muscle strength and those who did not, which led to significantly influenced results in terms of the percentage of ECCs with correct depth. Conclusions: The new ultra-compact auditory feedback device "Salvando a Llanetes^®" demonstrated utility for teaching and learning ECCs in basic CPR. We can affirm that the analyzed device is an adequate, safe and economical method for teaching "CPR Hands-Only™" to the general population.

Basic Resuscitation Training for Third-Cycle Primary School Students: A Qualitative Research of Training Providers' Experiences

The purpose of our research was to identify the experiences, obstacles, and self-reflective opinions regarding the qualifications of the training providers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to third-cycle primary school students. The effectiveness and success of a training program in basic resuscitation procedures depend on the qualifications and knowledge of the training provider and the type of didactic materials used. The qualitative method was used with 3 non-homogenous focus groups. Training providers (n = 8) from primary health care participated. The selected text was analyzed using a thematic analysis. The focus groups were organized after the training conducted on basic resuscitation procedures to third-cycle primary school students in September and October 2018. Prior to conducting the research we gained approval by the Medical Ethics Committee. Twenty-five codes, 11 categories and 3 themes were designed: Obstacles that are present in conducting training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the effects of training on primary school students and the development of components of prosocial behavior, and systemic responsibility for the qualifications and knowledge of training providers. The research has found that training providers must have the skills and knowledge to motivate the participants of training sessions and encourage them to gain knowledge and skills on resuscitation. They should be familiar with various methods and forms of learning and use relevant teaching materials, so that they can conduct training sessions effectively. Activities are needed to implement minimal criteria for conducting training on resuscitation such as appropriately qualified providers that should follow the European Resuscitation Guidelines, an appropriate pedagogical approach employed by the providers, appropriate equipment and tools, content adjusted to the age of the primary school students, conducting training in small groups, revision of knowledge for training providers and primary school students.

KIDS SAVE LIVES: a narrative review of associated scientific production

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most important elements of the chain of survival. Since 2015, international health societies and associations have recognized KIDS SAVE LIVES (KSL) as an essential initiative on CPR principles dissemination among schoolchildren. Children can be potential multipliers of the CPR competencies by teaching families, relatives, and friends. This review aimed to determine the main CPR issues raised in the KSL-associated publications.

RECENT FINDINGS

We found 12 Editorials, 9 Letters, 2 Special Reports, 4 Reviews, 2 Guidelines, 9 Original Articles and 17 Conference Presentations on KSL history, the schoolchildren CPR education, and KSL program implementation in several countries. In nine original studies, the main issues were instructors' and learners' CPR knowledge, skills, and retention, gender and physical aspects affecting CPR performance, types of KSL programs and new technologies to teach CPR.

SUMMARY

The KSL-associated literature is limited to support KSL benefits. However, the KSL could potentially contribute to improve out-of-hospital CPR performed by lay people at earlier age in different countries. Children are an important target group to diffuse CPR principles ('CHECK-CALL-COMPRESS'), as they are curious, motivated and enjoy teaching others.

Die Ausbildung von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern als Multiplikatoren für den Wiederbelebungsunterricht an Schulen

Zielsetzung

Die Einführung des Wiederbelebungsunterrichts an Schulen soll die Reanimationsbereitschaft in der Gesellschaft und das Überleben von Menschen mit einem außerklinischen Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand nachhaltig verbessern. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es zu prüfen, wie Lehrkräfte als qualifizierte Multiplikatoren den Wiederbelebungsunterricht in ihren Schulen eigenständig durchführen.

Methodik

Die Uniklinik Köln qualifizierte in Kooperation mit dem Deutschen Rat für Wiederbelebung e. V. in einem speziell entwickelten Kurs Lehrkräfte von weiterführenden Schulen. Von Juli bis November 2019 erfolgte die Evaluation dieses Lehrermultiplikationskonzepts mittels einer webbasierten Umfrage.

Ergebnisse

An der Befragung nahmen 23 von 26 Schulen teil (88 %). Insgesamt haben 96 % (n = 22) der an der Befragung teilnehmenden Schulen den Wiederbelebungsunterricht eingeführt. Es wurden 229 Lehrkräfte ausgebildet, die in dem 2‑jährigen Beobachtungszeitraum 8612 Schüler trainierten. Im Mittel trainierte eine qualifizierte Lehrkraft in ihrer Schule 38 Schüler in Wiederbelebung. Die Multiplikationsfaktoren (Anzahl der trainierten Schülerinnen und Schüler pro Lehrkraft) waren schulindividuell unterschiedlich (Minimum/Maximum: 10/1747). Die schulintern projektverantwortlichen Lehrkräfte gaben an, sich sehr sicher in der eigenständigen Durchführung des Wiederbelebungsunterrichts zu fühlen.

Zusammenfassung

Speziell qualifizierte Lehrkräfte führen den Wiederbelebungsunterricht an ihren Schulen zuverlässig ein. Um noch mehr Schüler mit dem Wiederbelebungstraining zu erreichen, müssen die Multiplikationsfaktoren durch gezielte Unterstützungsangebote weiter erhöht werden.

Effects of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation with Automated External Defibrillator Training among Schoolchildren in Slovenia: A Pre- and Post-test Cohort Study

Introduction

A low proportion of bystanders in Slovenia are willing to provide resuscitation to people experiencing cardiac arrest. We measured knowledge acquired after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training among Slovenian children in the final three grades of primary school.

Methods

This pre- and post-test cohort study included 566 schoolchildren aged 12-15 years. From April to May 2018, we administered a 15-item questionnaire to children in 15 primary schools, to assess the effects of theoretical and practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation training on their knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation at 1-2 months after training. Data were processed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses.

Results

A significantly greater level of post-training knowledge was noted in all three equally sized school grade groups (p=0.001). The youngest group (mean age 12.5 years) exhibited the greatest increase in knowledge, with test scores increasing by an average 2.65 (range 0-15) points. Age (p=0.001), body mass index (p=0.037), female sex (p=0.006), and previous resuscitation training (p=0.024) were significant independent predictors of pre-training knowledge level. Sex was the only predictor significantly influencing knowledge levels after training (p=0.002); girls scored up to 0.7 points higher than boys, both before and after training.

Conclusions

Among Slovenian schoolchildren aged 12-15 years, a significantly improved level of theoretical knowledge was demonstrated after cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. The introduction of cardiopulmonary training may be most effective in children aged 12.5 years (seventh graders). Early, compulsory resuscitation training might reduce social barriers to performing resuscitation, which may eventually translate into better post-cardiac arrest outcomes.

Effectiveness of the 40-Minute Handmade Manikin Program to Teach Hands-on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation at School Communities

Bystander training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial to improve the victims' survival and quality of life after sudden cardiac arrest. This observational study aimed to determine the success rate of 2 different programs of CPR training for children, adolescents, and adults in school communities. We assessed the development and acquisition of the following CPR skills: checking local safety, assessing victim's responsiveness, calling for help, assessing victim's breathing, and performing chest compression (hands and straight arms placement on the chest, compression velocity, depth, and chest release) using a 40-minute program with handmade manikins or the 120-minute program using intermediate-fidelity manikins. There were 1,630 learners (mean age 16 years, 38% male) in the 40-minute program, and 347 learners (mean age 27 years, 32% male) in the 120-minute program. The lowest successful pass rate of learners that developed CPR skills was 89.4% in the 40-minute program and 84.5% in the 120-minute program. The chances of success increased with age in the same program (compression rate and depth). The success rate also increased with the more extended and intermediate-cost program at the same age (assessing victim's responsiveness, calling for help, and assessing the victim's respiration). In conclusion, a 40-minute and cheaper (low-cost handmade manikin) CPR program was adequate to develop and acquire the overall CPR skills for ≥89% at school communities, independently of gender. However, some individual CPR skills can be further improved with increasing age and using the longer and intermediate-cost program.

The understanding and recall of school children in Mumbai in compression only life support cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Background and Aims:

Out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Increased bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is observed in regions where school CPR training has been mandatory and led to reduced mortality by OHCA. We would like to explore the feasibility of teaching compression only life support (COLS) CPR to Indian school children through the following objectives determining their understanding of theoretical knowledge after a training session in the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists' (ISA) COLS protocol and reviewing the information recall three months later.

Methods:

The participants of this quasi-experimental study were 132 school children, aged 12 to 15. The children were all below the age of 18 and consent was obtained vicariously through the principals of the schools and assent from the students in the form of willingness to answer the multiple-choice questionnaires. The study sample comprised of participants who responded to both questionnaires, immediately post-training session and three months later. Their responses were compiled in Excel and analysed using the paired t-test and R programming language.

Results:

None of the children had any previous knowledge on COLS. A one-hour session in COLS proved sufficient to increase the baseline knowledge with a mean post-training score by 82%. On comparing the two scores obtained, a statistically significant attrition rate was observed (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The children exhibited good understanding of COLS after a single training session. This makes us believe that more periodic revision, probably by inclusion of COLS in school curricula could be a satisfactory solution towards lowering the attrition in knowledge recall.

A video-based training to effectively teach CPR with long-term retention: the ScuolaSalvaVita.it ("SchoolSavesLives.it") project

Enhancing CPR knowledge in schools is the key to improving bystander CPR rate and survival after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but the best method to do so in a whole area is unknown. We wanted to assess if a province-based project, which involves the Secondary Schools of a whole Province, is effective in teaching schoolchildren CPR, and how well the skills are retained. We trained 100 teachers from the 21 Secondary Schools of the Province of Pavia with a BLS/AED course and we supplied each school with 10 low-budget manikins and four educational videos. These videos, about 2 min each, consist of a motivational part, an instructive part, a demonstrative part and a practice-while-watching part. We explained to the teachers how to use manikins and videos in a 2-h course. We carried out both a theoretical and a practical test in 21 classes, randomly selected between the classes trained by the teachers, 3 months and 6 months after the training. In the first 5 months of the project, 5146 schoolchildren aged 14-19, in the 21 Secondary Schools of our Province, were trained by their teachers. We tested 304 students 3 months after the course and 318 students 6 months after the course, with good results both in theoretical and practical skills. Our study demonstrates that the ScuolaSalvaVita project is able to effectively teach CPR through teachers using a video-based training in the Secondary Schools of a whole Province obtaining good long-term memory of CPR skills.

School Children Save Lives

Sudden cardiac death is one of the most common causes of preventable death in the industrialized world. In countries with organized emergency health services, it is possible to increase the rate of resuscitation performed by the public and save more lives. Increasing the rate of correct intervention by those witnessing sudden cardiac death requires an increase in the number of adults with training in CPR in society. Resuscitation training should begin in the school years to reach the whole of society within time. As school children with training in CPR increase, the proportion of individuals in society with training and the desire to help others increases, which causes a general increase in resuscitation rates. To teach children "Basic Life Support" the training models should be applied in theory, with training kits, and accompanied by educators, with a variety of figures based on video or computer based training. One of the most important steps in increasing the resuscitation rates performed by the public globally and enhancing survival is through training school children.

Gender aspects in cardiopulmonary resuscitation by schoolchildren: A systematic review

AIM

Bystander CPR-rates are embarrassingly low in some European countries. To increase bystander CPR-rates, many different approaches are used; one of them is training of schoolchildren in CPR. Multiple authors investigated practical and theoretical CPR performance and demonstrated gender differences related to schoolchildren CPR. The objective was to elaborate gender aspects in practical and theoretical CPR-performance from the current literature to better address female and male students.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed-database with different search terms was performed for controlled and uncontrolled prospective investigations. Altogether, n = 2360 articles were identified and checked for aptitude. From n = 97 appropriated articles, n = 24 met the inclusion criteria and were finally included for full review and incorporated in the manuscript.

RESULTS

Female students demonstrated higher motivation to attend CPR-training (p < 0.001), to respond to cardiac arrest (CA) (p < 0.01), scored higher in a CPR-questionnaire (p < 0.025), revealed better remembrance of the national emergency phone-number (p < 0.05) and showed a higher multiplier effect (p < 0.0001). Male students showed higher confidence in CPR-proficiency (p < 0.05), revealed deeper chest compressions (CC) (p < 0.001; p < 0.0015; p < 0.01), a higher CC-fraction (p < 0.01) and a higher arbitrary cardiac output simulated equivalent index (p < 0.05). Male gender could not be detected to be a predictor for higher tidal volume (p = 0.70; p = 0.0212).

CONCLUSION

In context of schoolchildren CPR, gender aspects are underestimated. Female students seem to be more motivated to attend CPR-training, reach more people in the role of a multiplier and need to be individually addressed in intensified practical training. Male students achieve a more sufficient chest compression depth and -fraction and could benefit from individual motivation.

["Kids Save Lives"-resuscitation training for schoolchildren : Systematic review]

BACKGROUND

Even in western developed countries, the probability of survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is only 6-10%. In order to improve survival after OHCA, early initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by laypersons is essential. Introduction of CPR training in schoolchildren seems to be effective to increase lay-CPR rates.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present investigation was to elucidate educational aspects of teaching schoolchildren in CPR and to summarize campaigns related to a comprehensive establishment of lay-CPR worldwide.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature research in PubMed was performed, the cutoff date was 27 February 2017. Overall, 192 abstracts were analyzed; 51 articles were considered relevant and included in the manuscript. An additional keyword research in Google revealed >230,000 entries, and 20 of those were included in the present manuscript.

RESULTS

A minimum age of 12-13 years is required to achieve a comparable quality of CPR to adult basic life support (BLS). Key issues are (i) the correct detection of a cardiac arrest, (ii) a correctly performed call for help, (iii) thoracic compressions and (iv) if applicable, the initiation of adequate mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Practical training showed a significantly higher CPR quality compared to theoretical training only or to the use of instruction or online videos only. Worldwide implementation of a 2-h BLS training per year in children from the age of 12 or younger is recommended by the "Kids Save Lives"- statement since 2015. In Germany, implementation at the level of the federal states has progressed to different degrees.