[Quasi-experimental study to assess schoolchildren's ability to use a semiautomatic external defibrillator 6 months...

To evaluate schoolchildren's ability to use a semiautomatic external defibrillator (SAED) in terms of how long they take to deliver a shock 6 months after they received training.

Uncontrolled, quasi-experimental study. Schoolchildren in grades 5 and 6 without prior knowledge of how to use a SAED were included. After the children answered a questionnaire about their knowledge, they were asked to position the SAED to treat a training mannequin. We measured the time it took them to switch on the device, place the electrode pads, and deliver the first shock (T0). The children were then individually given a simple explanation lasting approximately 60 seconds, after which we measured the time they took to place the SAED again and deliver a shock (T1). Each child's time was measured again 6 months later (T2).

A total of 253 children aged between 10 and 13 years participated; 128 (50.6%) were girls. All the children were able to use the SAED without prior training, although we did not take into consideration mistakes they made in placing the pads at baseline (T0). The mean times were as follows: T0, 83 (SD 14) seconds; T1, 44 (SD 5) seconds; and T2, 45 (SD 7) seconds. The mean differences between times were as follows: T0-T1, 39 (SD 13) seconds (P < .001); T0-T2, 38 (SD 15) seconds (P < .001); and T1-T2, 1.4 (SD 7.5) seconds (P = .010).

Pulse CO-oximetry contributed to the prehospital emergency care of these patients by influencing the decision to transfer the patient to a hospital.