Comparison of the quality of basic life support provided by rescuers trained using the 2005 or 2010 ERC guidelines

Abstract

IntroductionEffective delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and prompt defibrillation following sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is vital. Updated guidelines for adult basic life support (BLS) were published in 2010 by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) in an effort to improve survival following SCA. There has been little assessment of the ability of rescuers to meet the standards outlined within these new guidelines.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of the performance of first year healthcare students trained and assessed using either the new 2010 ERC guidelines or their 2005 predecessor, within the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. All students were trained as lay rescuers during a standardised eight hour ERC-accredited adult BLS course.ResultsWe analysed the examination records of 1091 students. Of these, 561 were trained and assessed using the old 2005 ERC guidelines and 530 using the new 2010 guidelines. A significantly greater proportion of candidates failed in the new guideline group (16.04% vs. 11.05%; p < 0.05), reflecting a significantly greater proportion of lay-rescuers performing chest compressions at too fast a rate when trained and assessed with the 2010 rather than 2005 guidelines (6.04% vs. 2.67%; p < 0.05). Error rates for other skills did not differ between guideline groups.ConclusionsThe new ERC guidelines lead to a greater proportion of lay rescuers performing chest compressions at an erroneously fast rate and may therefore worsen BLS efficacy. Additional study is required in order to define the clinical impact of compressions performed to a greater depth and at too fast a rate.

Knowledge of the Portuguese population on Basic Life Support and availability to attend training

“…Among the most frequently cited training locations are the qualified training centers (21.8%) and the Portuguese Red Cross (23.5%), different from data found in other studies (16,(20)(21)(22) . In a study conducted through telephone interviews with 7,320 respondents, the most common sources of training in first aid, more specifically in burns, were books (41.7%) and the internet (32.9%).…”

Combination of problem-based learning with high-fidelity simulation in CPR training improves short and long-term CPR skills: a randomised single blinded trial

“…This theory is supported by results of Jones et al, who showed an increase in compression frequency in 2010 CPR guideline educated students as compared to 2005 guideline educated students. [35]…”

Verification of changes in the time taken to initiate chest compressions according to modified basic life support guidelines

“…Furthermore, it has been reported by Roessler et al [2], Kobayashi et al [3], and Lubrano et al [5] that the time taken to initiate chest compressions can be shortened when the new guidelines were followed. Although the 2010 ERC guidelines and the 2010 AHA guidelines for BLS are different in terms of procedures for checking the victim for a response and the time taken to activate the emergency response system and initiate chest compressions, we showed that all subjects achieved a shorter chest compression initiation time after completing their re-education according to the new AHA guidelines [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. At the time when 2005-BLS was developed, health care providers were considered not to have ventilation equipment for cardiopulmonary arrest, indicating that BLS may have actually been performed without rescue breathing.…”