[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in municipal health services--a simple program for training and maintenance]

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with defibrillation may be a life-saving procedure. We present a course for CPR training and skills preservation developed by local paramedics and GPs and aimed at primary care professionals.

In a three-hour course programme for 10-16 participants we simulate emergency scenarios with an advanced computerised phantom as patient. Participants work in teams with physicians, ambulance personnel and nurses responsible for defibrillation and medication, with the other participants providing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Constructive feedback based on the national guidelines follows every training session. Instructors are the ambulance leader and a GP.

The training is well received and courses fully booked. The optimal number of physicians is two to four. The success of the course suggests that there is a motivation for quality improvement in CPR in Norwegian local communities.