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Preservation of Basic Life Support Competencies Among Certified First Responders
Igor Goričan1,2,3, Andrej Šorgo4, Matej Strnad2,5,6
1General Staff, Slovenian Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence, Vojkova 55, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Newly certified first responders retain skills well, but senior first responders with no interventions show decreased practical skills. Recertification strategies for senior responders should consider intervention frequency.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Voluntary first responders enhance survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Slovenia.
- Optimal retraining intervals for first responders lack conclusive data, relying on expert opinion.
- Current research highlights a need for evidence-based retraining guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess skill and knowledge retention in Slovenian licensed first responders (LFRs) one year post-certification.
- To investigate the impact of intervention frequency on skill and knowledge retention among LFRs.
- To determine optimal retraining intervals based on practical performance and experience.
Main Methods:
- Observational longitudinal and cross-sectional study of newly certified and senior LFRs (2019-2024).
- Reassessment of practical skills and theoretical knowledge one year after previous certification.
- Group classification based on intervention frequency over the past year.
Main Results:
- Newly certified LFRs showed no significant decline in practical skills or theoretical knowledge after one year.
- Senior LFRs exhibited significantly lower practical skill scores than newly certified LFRs.
- Senior LFRs with no interventions had lower practical skills; participation in at least one intervention predicted higher scores.
Conclusions:
- Initial training for Slovenian LFRs is adequate for maintaining skills in the first year.
- Senior LFRs require tailored recertification strategies, considering their intervention frequency.
- Intervention experience is crucial for maintaining practical skills in experienced first responders.
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