Elsevier

Resuscitation

Volume 37, Issue 1, 1 April 1998, Pages 21-25
Resuscitation

Are we training the right people yet?: A survey of participants in public cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-9572(98)00026-4Get rights and content

Abstract

It has long been argued that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training should be targeted at those most likely to be on the scene when a cardiac arrest occurs. Since cardiac arrest occurs in the home about three-quarters of the time, the persons most likely to be on hand are family members. We surveyed 244 participants in public (i.e. not offered in a workplace) CPR classes to determine the make up of the population. In contrast to the family members of cardiac patients, who average 55 years of age, CPR class participants are young (mean 30.8 years). The majority (66.8%) of participants are in their twenties and thirties; only 6.6% are aged 50 or older. A minority (18.5%) indicate living with someone at high risk for a heart attack. In at least one respect, CPR class participants do resemble family members of cardiac patients, they are overwhelmingly (69.4%) female. Even in public classes, the majority (78.5%) of persons taking CPR are fulfilling a job requirement. Most (62.0%) have had prior CPR training; about half (49.2%) have had recent (i.e. within three years) training. Targeting of CPR training to the individuals most likely to be at the scene of a cardiac arrest has long been advocated, but the reality is that training does not reach the right people. More research is needed to determine how better to reach these persons.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

244 subjects were enrolled in the following CPR classes offered to the public (i.e. not held in a workplace) by an American Red Cross (ARC) Chapter and an American Heart Association (AHA) Affiliate in two Northeastern cities: ARC Community CPR (N=119), ARC Standard First Aid (N=94), and AHA Heartsaver/Health Care Provider III level (N=31)1. Surveys were administered by

Results

The mean age of the 229 subjects who gave their age was 30.8 years (S.D. 10.9) Only 15 (6.6%) of the subjects were 50 years of age or older, and 22 (9.6%) were under the age of 18.

About one in five of the subjects (18.5%) indicated living with someone identified by the respondent as being `at high risk of having a heart attack.' Although a greater proportion (33.3%) of subjects 50 years of age and over indicated living with someone at risk, there was no statistical association of age and this

Discussion

Our investigation of public CPR classes suggests that CPR training is poorly targeted at those most likely to be nearby when a cardiac arrest strikes. The profile of CPR course participants does not reflect the profile of family members of cardiac patients, whose mean age is 55 [8]. The present sample differs in age little from Brennan's 25, 26sample of 690 participants in ARC Adult CPR classes, in which the mean age was 31.7 years (S.D.=13.4). The distribution of participants looks quite

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Laerdal Medical Corporation, Wappingers Falls, NY, USA.The authors would like to thank Daniel Alves and Jan Bober for their support and access to the classes. Nicholas G. Bircher, M.D., William Kaye, M.D., and Mary M. Newman were instrumental in the design and review of the study. Anne Batcheller, B.S.N., R.N. oversaw the data collection. The following made contributions as members of the Laerdal Medical Advisory Board: Lynn Doering, R.N., D.N.Sc., Ron Frick,

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