Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Basic and Advanced Life Support (BLS, ALS) Self-Training Systems (STS) for Paramedical and Medical Personnel

Abstract

Resuscitation and acute respiratory care must be taught to all personnel involved in the management of everyday emergencies and mass casualties. Personnel range from the lay public to physician specialists. In deciding who should be taught what and how one must consider the limitations of learning ability of trainees and of resources. Mouth-to-mouth ventilation can be learned by laymen merely from viewing pictures, but better with manikin practice to perfection. CPR steps A-B-C can be effectively taught to non-physicians including laymen with instructor-coached manikin practice to perfection. but also with self-practice coached by audiotape, and to some extent even by frequent film viewing only without manikin practice. In 1972, A. Laerdal invented a CPR steps A-B-C self-training system consisting of a recording manikin, flipcharts and the coaching audiotape. We added a demonstration film to be shown before manikin practice.

The Potential Impact of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation (CPCR) Education

“…4. oxygen administration can be learned also by self training, but the presence of a coordinator is necessary to reduce the risk of misuse of equipment; 5 5. ALS knowledge can be learned from books; ALS skill acquisition requires supervised practice with patients;…”

“…tracheal intubation skills can be acquired by studying an illustrated text 1 , seeing a demonstration film, and then practicing on intubation manikins to perfection. 5 9. for retraining and for teaching those who believe they can do it, do not waste time by forcing them into a course of "X" hours. Test them; if they pass, they do not have to take the course;…”

“…(4) Methods should be developed to test the causal relationship between process of care and outcome. (5) The feasibility of obtaining information from sources other than the medical record should be explored, such as the value of interviews. (6) Procedures should be developed to study the reliability and validity of information sources, process and outcome measures into the judgment process.…”

“…The efficacy of this approach for doers has been documented. 3 ' 5 Future implementation of this instructors'-coordinators' course must give special consideration to developing countries with limited budgets.…”