Hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for schoolchildren: A comparison study among different class groups

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Up to 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are witnessed by family members, friends, and other bystanders. These bystanders can play a vital role in delivering help, before professional help arrives. Mandatory nationwide training of schoolchildren has shown the highest impact in improving the bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rate. In our study, we compared the competency of different classes of schoolchildren from middle school onward in learning hands-only CPR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in four schools. Schoolchildren were divided into three groups as middle school (6(th) to 8(th) standard) (MS), secondary school (9(th) and 10(th) standard) (SC), and senior secondary school (11(th) and 12(th) standard) (SN). Training module consisted of slide presentation on “hands-only CPR” of 1 h, video demonstration of 30 min, and hands-on session of 2.5 h. Students were then individually assessed for the skills. RESULTS: A total of 810 children were enrolled and trained. Initial approach was performed correctly by 68% of MS, 79.3% of SC, and 82.4% of SN school children, whereas 49.4% of MS, 61.3% of SC, and 72.5% of SN correctly performed chest compression in terms of rate, depth, and duration. Median compression depth and maximum duration of CPR achieved were significantly different across class groups (P < 0.001) Compression depth and duration of chest compression were positively correlated with children's age, height, weight, and body mass index (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Theoretical training on hands-only CPR can be started at the middle school level, and practical training can be incorporated in school curricula from secondary school.