Designing and implementing the first national CPR championship in Greece: the "KIDS SAVE LIVES - TA PAIDIA SOZOUN ZOES" experience.

BACKGROUND

Basic Life Support (BLS) is critical in improving survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), yet survival rates remain low in countries such as Greece. Early education and community engagement are key to increasing bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) rates. The "KIDS SAVE LIVES - TA PAIDIA SOZOUN ZOES (KSL)" initiative aims to address this gap through school-based BLS training and innovative educational strategies.

AIM: To describe the implementation and evaluate the effectiveness of the first National CPR Championship for school-aged children in Greece.

METHODS

This study consisted of two phases. Phase I involved the design and implementation of the KSL CPR Championship - a national, school-based competition assessing CPR skills using objective metrics via QCPR technology. Phase II included a post-event evaluation through a 24-item questionnaire distributed to participants (students, teachers, and parents), assessing perceptions, satisfaction, and educational impact.

RESULTS

In 2025 the CPR Championship accommodated 196 schools, comprising of 432 student participants. High-quality CPR performance was observed across all school levels (mean scores: 95.7-96.3% out of 100%, with 88.2% in special needs schools). A total of 197 respondents completed the questionnaire. Most participants (94%) considered the Championship a reliable method for assessing BLS skills, while 99% agreed it was an effective training approach and should be repeated regularly. All respondents reported improved confidence in CPR skills, and 99% would recommend the program. Strong support was expressed for sustained CPR education, including in-school mannequins (99%), AED availability (96%), and mandatory national CPR training in schools (100%).

CONCLUSION

The KSL National CPR Championship represents an effective, engaging, and scalable approach to BLS education among schoolchildren. The initiative enhances skill acquisition, confidence, and community awareness, supporting the integration of structured CPR training into national educational policy to improve OHCA outcomes.