Lay basic life support: the current situation in a medium-sized German town

• Published in: Emergency medicine journal : EMJ Vol. 28; no. 9; pp. 786 - 789
• Main Authors: Piepho, Tim, Resch, Nora, Heid, Florian, Werner, Christian, Noppens, Ruediger R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine 01.09.2011; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basic life support (BLS); Cardiac arrest; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - methods; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - standards; CPR; ECG; education; effectiveness; ERC; Female; First aid; Germany; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; lay; Lifesaving; Male; Manikins; Middle Aged; Mouth; nursing; paramedics; prehospital; Questionnaires; Respiration; resuscitation; Safety training; Time Factors; training; Young Adult; Germany
• ISSN: 1472-0205; 1472-0213
• DOI: 10.1136/emj.2010.092957

ObjectiveBasic life support (BLS) by laypersons is essential for surviving sudden cardiac death in the community. The present study investigates BLS skill knowledge of German laypersons in a public community place and examines the effect of the interval between the last BLS course and present skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).MethodsParticipants were randomly recruited at a public place in a medium-sized German town. Volunteers were confronted with a fictitious cardiac arrest situation using a BLS training manikin and were asked to help. Using a standardised evaluation sheet, measures were documented. Participants' demographic data were evaluated after completion of the scenario.ResultsNone of the participants (n=89; male=42, female=47) followed the current BLS algorithm correctly; independent from the last CPR course was attended. Most steps were performed in random order. 43% (n=38) of participants checked for responsiveness, 65% (n=58) performed chest compressions, and 63% (n=56) delivered rescue breathing. 10% (n=9) of participants were unable to name a national emergency telephone number. Laypersons who attended a BLS course more than 10 years ago showed a significant lack of BLS knowledge and failed more often to deliver chest compressions and rescue breathing.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates that current CPR guidelines for BLS are not followed by laypersons in a medium-sized town in Germany. These data suggest that CPR refresher courses as well as implication of BLS guidelines in daily life are warranted.