'Kids save lives': why schoolchildren should train in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
OBJECTIVE
Quick initiation of basic life support (BLS) by laypersons is one of the most successful strategies in the fight against sudden cardiac death. In developed countries, cardiac arrest is still a major contributor to avoidable death, and despite the fact that more than 50% of all cardiac arrests are witnessed, layperson BLS is performed in less than 20%. To improve this situation, BLS training in schools has been established.


RESULTS
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction including the use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) has shown to be feasible even for young schoolchildren, and there is an indication that respective programmes are effective to enhance patient outcome on a population basis. Earlier training may even lead to more sustainable results; however, it is reasonable to implement adjusted curricula for different child ages. The programme 'Kids Save Lives' recently endorsed by the WHO will help promoting school-based BLS training worldwide demanding education on CPR for all pupils starting at least at age 12.


CONCLUSIONS
Resuscitation training in schools can help to increase the amount of BLS-trained population. Social skills of pupils can be improved and training can be successfully implemented independently of the pupils' age and physique.
aCity of Münster Fire Department bDepartment of Anaesthesiology Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany cOffice of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland dDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Cologne University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
Andreas
A
Bohn
Roman P
RP
Lukas
Jan
J
Breckwoldt
Bernd W
BW
Böttiger
Hugo
H
Van Aken
D000293:Adolescent; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D002648:Child; D047548:Defibrillators; D006801:Humans; D058687:Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D012574:Schools