Lay basic life support: the current situation in a medium-sized German town.
OBJECTIVE
Basic life support (BLS) by laypersons is essential for surviving sudden cardiac death in the community. The present study investigates BLS skill knowledge of German laypersons in a public community place and examines the effect of the interval between the last BLS course and present skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).


METHODS
Participants were randomly recruited at a public place in a medium-sized German town. Volunteers were confronted with a fictitious cardiac arrest situation using a BLS training manikin and were asked to help. Using a standardised evaluation sheet, measures were documented. Participants' demographic data were evaluated after completion of the scenario.


RESULTS
None of the participants (n=89; male=42, female=47) followed the current BLS algorithm correctly; independent from the last CPR course was attended. Most steps were performed in random order. 43% (n=38) of participants checked for responsiveness, 65% (n=58) performed chest compressions, and 63% (n=56) delivered rescue breathing. 10% (n=9) of participants were unable to name a national emergency telephone number. Laypersons who attended a BLS course more than 10 years ago showed a significant lack of BLS knowledge and failed more often to deliver chest compressions and rescue breathing.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates that current CPR guidelines for BLS are not followed by laypersons in a medium-sized town in Germany. These data suggest that CPR refresher courses as well as implication of BLS guidelines in daily life are warranted.
University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Anaesthesiology, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Tim
T
Piepho
Nora
N
Resch
Florian
F
Heid
Christian
C
Werner
Ruediger R
RR
Noppens
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult