Eighth grade students become proficient at CPR and use of an AED following a condensed training programme.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new, 1-h, condensed training programme to teach continuous chest compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CCC-CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills to a cohort of eight grade public school students.


METHODS



RESULTS
Thirty-three eligible subjects completed the programme; mean age 13.7 years; 48.5% female. Eight participants reported some prior training in CPR and AED use. Following initial training, 29/33 (87.8%) subjects demonstrated proficiency at CCC-CPR and AED application/operation in a mock adult cardiac arrest scenario. At four-weeks, 28/33 (84.8%) subjects demonstrated skill retention in similar scenario testing. Subjects also showed improvement in written knowledge regarding AED use as shown by scores on an AHA based written exam (60.9% versus 77.3%; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
With our focused, condensed training program, eighth grade public school students became proficient in CCC-CPR and AED use. This is the first study to document the ability of middle school students to learn and retain CCC-CPR and AED skills for adult sudden cardiac arrest victims with such a curriculum.
Kelley
James
J
Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Emergency Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Richman
Peter B
PB
Ewy
Gordon A
GA
Clark
Lani
L
Bulloch
Blake
B
Bobrow
Bentley J
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001130:Arizona; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D047548:Defibrillators; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013334:Students