[Teaching of basic heart-lung reanimation to the general public].

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the efficacy of training in basic paediatric and adult heart-lung reanimation by means of theoretical/practical courses for the general public.

DESIGN

Prospective and observational study.

SETTING

Chamberi Municipal Health Centre, Madrid.

PARTICIPANTS

360 people aged from 13 to 75.

INTERVENTIONS: From 1999 to 2003, 381 people took 26 courses in prevention of accidents and response to them. Theoretical classes in prevention of cardiac/respiratory arrest and in basic heart-lung reanimation (HLR) and practical classes in HLR were given to groups of 5 or 6 students, using dummies of babies, children, and adults.

MAIN MEASUREMENTS: At the start and end of the course, 17.2% of the participants were assessed for their theoretical knowledge; and 94.5% had a practical assessment of their HLR skills. At the end of the course all students filled in an anonymous satisfaction questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the initial theoretical assessment, the mean score was 3.5+/-1.5 (out of a maximum of 10); in the final assessment, 7.7+/-1.7 (P<.01). 87.2% of participants achieved sufficient practical skills. In the questionnaire, the participants thought the course was very useful for daily life and felt more able to take action.

CONCLUSIONS

The basic HLR courses for the general public provide useful theoretical and practical training and manage to improve peoples ability to react correctly and so resolve emergency situations.