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Basic Life Support Awareness and Knowledge in High School Students
Rishit Chilappa1,2, Michael J Waxman2
1Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, KS.
Insights
High school students show basic life support (BLS) awareness but lack critical automated external defibrillator (AED) knowledge. Integrating BLS courses into curricula is supported and could improve cardiac arrest survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Basic life support (BLS) is crucial for survival during cardiac arrest.
- Limited data exists on high school students' BLS awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess high school students' awareness of basic life support (BLS).
- To determine students' interest in BLS education within the high school curriculum.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 105 high school students.
- Questions covered BLS knowledge, including steps during a collapse and AED usage.
- Student interest in a school-based BLS course was evaluated.
Main Results:
- Over 70% of students expressed willingness to enroll in a BLS course.
- Students demonstrated general knowledge of BLS steps.
- A significant gap in knowledge regarding automated external defibrillator (AED) use was identified.
Conclusions:
- While students grasp BLS fundamentals, critical knowledge gaps, particularly concerning AEDs, persist.
- Students recognize the value of BLS and support its inclusion in high school curricula.
- Implementing BLS courses in high schools can enhance student knowledge and potentially increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. When cardiovascular disease results in cardiac arrest, the ability to perform basic life support (BLS) can change the outcome from death to survival. There is no definitive statistical data on high schoolers' awareness of basic life support (BLS).
Methods:
A survey-based research study was conducted to find high schoolers' awareness of BLS. A total of 105 students, primarily from Kansas City suburbs, took a survey with questions ranging from their views on whether BLS courses should be integrated into the high school curriculum to the steps they would take when a person collapses on the ground. Results were analyzed to determine the students' knowledge of different aspects of BLS and their interest in taking a BLS course in school.
Results:
Over 70% of the students would take a BLS course should it be offered in a high school class. Most students answered questions regarding BLS steps correctly but lacked critical knowledge on an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Conclusions:
Although over 70% of the students were aware of the basics of BLS, most students lacked knowledge on the critical aspects of BLS, such as the use of an AED. Most students recognize the importance of BLS in the high school curriculum and would acquire the skills in a high school class. Introducing a BLS course in the high school curriculum would improve the students' knowledge and contribute to improved survival rates of victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
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