Automated external defibrillation skills by naive schoolchildren

AimEarly defibrillation should achieve the highest survival rates when applied within the first minutes after the collapse. Public access defibrillation programs have increased the population awareness of the importance of defibrillation. Schoolchildren should be trained in basic life support (BLS) skills and some countries have included BLS in their school syllabus. However, little is known of the current knowledge and ability of schoolchildren to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).MethodsA multicentric descriptive study, 1295 children from 6 to 16 years of age without previous BLS or AED training. Subjects performed a simulation with an AED and a manikin with no training or feedback and were evaluated by means of a checklist.ResultsA total of 258 participants (19.9%) were able to simulate an effective and safe defibrillation in less than 3 min and 52 (20.1% of this group) performed it successfully. A significant correlation between objective and age group was observed (G = 0.172) (p < 0.001). The average time to deliver a shock was 83.3 ± 26.4 s; that time decreased significantly with age [6 YO (108.3 ± 40.4) vs. 16 YO (64.7 ± 18.6) s] (p < 0.001).ConclusionsAround 20% of schoolchildren without prior training are able to use an AED correctly in less than 3 min following the device's acoustic and visual instructions. However, only one-fifth of those who showed success managed to complete the procedure satisfactorily. These facts should be considered in order to provide a more accurate definition and effective implementation of BLS/AED teaching and training at schools.