Pilot Training Program on Hands-Only CPR and Choking First Aid for Frontline Police Responders in Rural Nepal.

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a significant and growing cause of mortality in Nepal.
• Bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for improving survival rates after OHCA.
• First responders in rural Nepal, including police, often lack essential Basic Life Support (BLS) training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a pilot BLS training program for Nepal Police and Nepal Army personnel in rural Nepal.
• To evaluate knowledge gain and skill competence in hands-only CPR and choking first aid.
• To determine the feasibility of implementing BLS training for frontline responders in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

• A community-based pilot program was conducted by HAPSA-Nepal, involving lectures, videos, and hands-on exercises.
• Participants (Nepal Police and Nepal Army) underwent pre- and post-training assessments, including questionnaires and skills checklists.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-test scores.

Main Results:

• 126 participants completed the pilot training; 98.4% had no prior CPR training, and 100% had no choking first aid training.
• Average pre-test scores significantly improved from 4.4 to 8.06 (out of 11) post-training.
• All participants successfully passed the skills assessment, demonstrating competence in BLS procedures.

Conclusions:

• Locally adapted BLS training programs, incorporating hands-only CPR and choking first aid, are effective.
• The training led to significant improvements in knowledge and skills among frontline participants.
• This pilot study highlights the potential for enhancing emergency response in rural Nepal through targeted BLS education.