KIDS SAVE LIVES: a narrative review of associated scientific production

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is critical for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival.
• The KIDS SAVE LIVES (KSL) initiative, established in 2015, focuses on disseminating CPR principles to schoolchildren.
• Children can act as multipliers of CPR knowledge within their communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and identify the primary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) issues discussed in publications associated with the KIDS SAVE LIVES (KSL) initiative.
• To assess the current literature on CPR education for schoolchildren through the KSL program.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of KSL-associated publications, including editorials, letters, special reports, reviews, guidelines, original articles, and conference presentations.
• Analysis of nine original studies focusing on CPR knowledge, skills, retention, performance factors, and educational methodologies.

Main Results:

• The literature review encompassed various publication types, with a focus on KSL history, CPR education in schools, and program implementation.
• Original studies highlighted key issues such as CPR knowledge and skill acquisition, retention among instructors and learners, gender and physical factors influencing performance, and the impact of different teaching methods and technologies.

Conclusions:

• While evidence supporting the direct benefits of KSL is currently limited, the initiative holds significant potential for improving layperson CPR rates at an earlier age.
• Children are a valuable demographic for disseminating essential CPR ('CHECK-CALL-COMPRESS') due to their inherent curiosity and enthusiasm for teaching.
• Further research is needed to fully establish the long-term impact and effectiveness of KSL programs in enhancing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.