title: [Teaching of basic heart-lung reanimation to the general public].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the efficacy of training in basic paediatric and adult heart-lung reanimation by means of theoretical/practical courses for the general public.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective and observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chamberi Municipal Health Centre, Madrid.
  
  
  METHODS
  360 people aged from 13 to 75.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2003, 381 people took 26 courses in prevention of accidents and response to them. Theoretical classes in prevention of cardiac/respiratory arrest and in basic heart-lung reanimation (HLR) and practical classes in HLR were given to groups of 5 or 6 students, using dummies of babies, children, and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the start and end of the course, 17.2% of the participants were assessed for their theoretical knowledge; and 94.5% had a practical assessment of their HLR skills. At the end of the course all students filled in an anonymous satisfaction questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the initial theoretical assessment, the mean score was 3.5+/-1.5 (out of a maximum of 10); in the final assessment, 7.7+/-1.7 (P<.01). 87.2% of participants achieved sufficient practical skills. In the questionnaire, the participants thought the course was very useful for daily life and felt more able to take action.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The basic HLR courses for the general public provide useful theoretical and practical training and manage to improve peoples ability to react correctly and so resolve emergency situations.
authors.affiliation: Centro Municipal de Salud de Chamberí, Madrid, Spain. mjscar@eresmas.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sastre Carrera
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: García García
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bordel Nieto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Herce Cid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrillo Alvarez
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Benítez Robredo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires