Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation: would they do it again?
During the last three decades, community education programs have been initiated with the purpose of teaching community citizens cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Millions of people have learned the technique. However, the frequency of bystander initiated CPR prior to emergency medicine service (EMS) arrival is still very low. This can lead one to ask if CPR training is optimal. Perhaps motivational aspects and psychological inhibitors to starting CPR should be included in CPR training. So far, CPR training has been skills oriented and has assumed that a bystander competent in CPR will intervene when required. However, this does not seem to be the case, as there are indications in recent research, for example, that the will to help and the courage to intervene are also needed. Bystanders who intervene in a cardiac arrest event improve the victim's chance of survival. However, there is little knowledge regarding the rescuers' reactions concerning their performance and whether they will overcome the trauma of the event and be prepared to do it again.
Axelsson
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School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Sweden. asa.axelsson@hos.hh.se
D000533:Altruism; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D013548:Sweden