RCParvulari training: A basic life support training methodology applied to 5-year-old students: Effectiveness in a...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Public Health Education
• Childhood Health & Safety

Background:

• Basic life support (BLS) training in schools is vital for empowering individuals to save lives.
• Early intervention in medical emergencies significantly improves patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the RCParvulari® methodology in teaching BLS to preschool-aged children.
• To assess the acquisition and retention of emergency response knowledge and skills in young children.

Main Methods:

• A cluster randomized clinical trial involving 49 educational centers and 1327 schoolchildren aged 4-6 years.
• Intervention group received theoretical and practical BLS training (RCParvulari® methodology); control group received theoretical training only.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 3-12 months later.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed significantly improved knowledge in early recognition and contacting emergency services (112) compared to the control group (P < .001).
• Knowledge retention, including the "mouth-nose-eyes" mnemonic, was significantly better in the intervention group up to 12 months post-training.
• 1327 schoolchildren participated, representing 79% of the target population.

Conclusions:

• The RCParvulari® methodology significantly enhances preschool students' ability to recognize medical emergencies.
• The training improved students' capacity to initiate the chain of survival by alerting adults and calling emergency services (112).
• The methodology demonstrated effective long-term retention of critical life-saving skills in young children.