title: Toddler parents training, understanding, and perceptions of CPR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about parent CPR skills and their perceptions of its use, especially in the context of drowning incidents among young children where parents are often the first responder. The primary objective of the study was to examine parental understanding of child and adult CPR, extent of CPR training, and parental confidence to perform CPR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey research using a self-complete questionnaire was used to gather data from parents (n = 1716) whose 2-4-year-old toddlers were either attending early childhood centres (n = 781) or enrolled in swim schools (n = 935). Differences in parental CPR training, knowledge, levels of confidence in ability to perform CPR, and perceptions were measured by frequency, with regression tests used to discern differences by institution, gender, ethnicity, length of residency, and recency of CPR training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost two-thirds (64%) of parents reported that they had received formal CPR training in the past, yet few correctly reported the current ratios for either adult CPR (19%) or child CPR (12%). Most parents correctly agreed that, in child CPR, you must always give initial breaths before starting compressions (74%), but the majority incorrectly believed you should seek help before starting CPR (61%) and continue CPR for 5 min before stopping (59%). Most parents (56%) felt anxious about their ability to perform CPR on an adult, and even more (62%) felt anxious about their ability to perform child CPR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings highlight the need for education interventions to address the substantial gaps in knowledge of CPR for all parents of young children.
authors.affiliation: Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland, Gate 4, 60 Epsom Ave, Epsom, Auckland 1150, New Zealand. k.moran@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stanley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors