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Teaching Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation to Later Elementary School Students
Maureen McGlinchey Ford1, Cyle D Rogotzke1, Sherrie L Bencik1
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|November 15, 2023
Summary
Elementary students can learn and perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Training children in CPR significantly boosts their knowledge and confidence, potentially increasing bystander CPR rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Cardiovascular Resuscitation Science
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rates in the US are critically low.
- Training children in CPR is a proposed strategy to improve these rates.
- Data on the effectiveness of chest compressions by elementary school children are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if fourth and fifth graders can learn to respond to cardiac arrest scenarios.
- To assess the efficacy of chest compressions performed by elementary school students.
- To evaluate the impact of CPR training on children's knowledge and confidence.
Main Methods:
- A nonrandomized before-and-after study involving 356 fourth and fifth graders.
- Two 2-hour cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) educational sessions.
- Skills assessment two weeks later using a checklist and manikin-analyzed compression effectiveness.
- Paired t tests for knowledge change and Chi-squared tests for compression efficacy and associations.
Main Results:
- Mean CPR knowledge scores increased significantly post-intervention.
- Self-reported adequate CPR knowledge rose from 44% to 97%.
- 76% of students delivered ≥50% effective chest compressions; higher grade level was associated with better compression efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Most elementary students successfully learned hands-only CPR and delivered effective chest compressions.
- The intervention significantly increased students' confidence and willingness to perform CPR.
- Training children in CPR is a viable strategy to potentially improve bystander CPR rates.
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