Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training in Select Rhode Island High Schools: A Descriptive Study

Fewer than 15% of people who have out-of-hospital cardiac arrests survive, but chances of survival can be tripled with effective bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The majority of states, including Rhode Island, require high school CPR training, yet the impact of this is not well studied. A 33-question REDCap survey regarding cardiac arrest preparedness, CPR education, and barriers to CPR training was emailed to high school staff in Rhode Island. There were 62 responses; 26% reported their school taught CPR and 94% felt it was important for students to have CPR certification. Barriers included time (85%), budget (82%), and materials (79%). Over 80% felt students would not be able to perform high-quality CPR or properly use a defibrillator. Despite laws requiring CPR training and the belief by school staff of the importance of CPR training, the majority of students are not receiving CPR training. Staff report students do not have the ability to perform effective CPR or use a defibrillator.