21; P = 0.01). However, body weight (r = 0.18; P = 0.04) on the one side, and age (r = 0.16; P = 0.06) on the other are in close proximity to http://www.selleckchem.com/products/PF-2341066.html the significance cut-off at P < 0.05 and should not lead to any kind of dichotomous thinking that would be potentially misleading.Our results are in keeping with other similar observations that have been forthcoming from the adult learner literature [10,11]. BMI did not influence cognitive or technical skills such as performing a correct emergency call, establishing recovery position, deploying the AED correctly, or performing CPR with the correct ratio of breathing to chest compressions. Students tended to give chest compressions that were slightly too frequent. Studies with adult populations show a similar tendency [10].

It is compelling to note that the retention and performance of these young students is remarkably similar, if not better, than that reported in adults [10]. In light of the 31% failure to tilt the head back during artificial ventilation, our investigation also demonstrates the fact that this skill is complex and likely requires greater training and practice, different teaching methods or maybe just a more positive but strict feedback from trainers. However, clarification was beyond the scope of this investigation.Given the excellent performance by the students evaluated in this study, the data support the concept that CPR training can be taught and learnt by school children and that CPR education can be implemented effectively in primary schools at all levels.

Even if physical strength may limit CPR effectiveness, cognitive skills are not dependent on age, and with periodic retraining, children’s performance would likely improve over time [12]. Although the median depth of chest compression achieved by very young children (aged nine years) was generally too shallow for adult BLS based on ERC recommendations, it did achieve the recommended depth for resuscitation of children [13] suggesting that at the very least, children can help others of their age and also learn skills vital to improving the chain of survival, i.e. early notification of emergency medical services systems [14].Many educational institutions hesitate to include first aid training in the scholastic curriculum [15].

With the available literature pointing to hesitation by adults to perform first aid [16], and the poor performance of life-saving measures [17], including CPR training at young ages in schools could be an effective Cilengitide solution, to improve bystander initiated rescue efforts.It is important to recognize that this study had no control group to assess the actual change in skill or knowledge as measured before the training program was instituted. We note that most studies of teaching CPR skills have never employed a control group.