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Community life support training: does it attract the right people?
C Lester1, P Donnelly, D Assar
1Centre for Applied Public Health Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Lansdowne Hospital, Cardiff.
Public Health
|October 6, 1997
Summary
Community training successfully equipped members of the public with basic life support skills. Most trained individuals expressed willingness to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in emergencies, especially for relatives.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Community-based training programs are crucial for increasing public preparedness in emergency situations.
- Basic life support (BLS) skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), empower bystanders to act effectively during cardiac arrests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a community-based mass training campaign for basic life support.
- To evaluate public attitudes towards BLS training and willingness to perform CPR in various emergency scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of the public via a local newspaper campaign for mass BLS training sessions.
- A random sample of 241 trained individuals completed a questionnaire on their attitudes and willingness to attempt CPR.
- Data analysis of questionnaire responses regarding training approval, self-perceived capability, and willingness to resuscitate.
Main Results:
- Nearly all participants (99%) approved of community BLS training.
- A significant majority (82%) felt capable of saving a life using learned techniques.
- Over 97% expressed willingness to perform CPR on a relative, with 67% having a family history of heart problems.
- Willingness to perform CPR decreased in unpleasant circumstances, particularly if the casualty had vomited (25%).
Conclusions:
- The mass training campaign successfully recruited individuals, many with personal connections to cardiac arrest risks.
- The program produced motivated lay rescuers intending to utilize their BLS skills when needed.
- Community BLS training is effective in enhancing public confidence and willingness to act in emergencies.