We freely acknowledge KPT-330 FDA that some basis knowledge may exist (such as calling an emergency number), while other aspects of the skills taught are unlikely to exist in the knowledge base of the individual being taught. Also the study was not randomized for the same purpose. The fundamental premise remains that the reason why BLS is taught to the public is that there is a presumption that the knowledge base does not exist in the population.This study is limited in that it did not study students younger than nine years of age. Previous studies showed good skill acquisition and retention in students aged 8 to 11 years after they had attended specialised ‘under 11 rescuer’ first aid training [5].

Furthermore, we had previously carried out similar studies on children six to seven years old, and we had found that they performed well when calling emergency medical services or establishing the recovery position. However, CPR skills showed a median score of 3.5 (95% confidence interval = 1.5 to 3.6) on a six-item scale (from 1 ‘excellent’ to 6 ‘insufficient’) [18].This study was performed in 2006 and American Heart Association and ERC guidelines at that time encompassed the training of ventilation during BLS. Since then studies have suggested the lesser importance of teaching ventilation to lay people and new guidelines for lay person BLS have been proposed reducing the need to train lay people in ventilation. Our study demonstrates, yet again, that ventilation is a difficult skill to be taught and retained.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that standard CPR training can be effective learnt by school children above the age of nine years.

Skills such as calling emergency medical services, deploying an AED, or placing the victim in the recovery position can be effectively performed by school children after only six hours of effective instruction and practice. For at least the 120 days studied, the retention of these skills is good if not better that that of adult learners. Young age does not limit the learning of CPR cognitive skills, but lack of physical strength may. The advantages of early activation of the emergency medical services and constant retraining is likely to outweigh the limitations of physical strength. Training can be provided by the students’ own teachers, if they have been appropriately trained themselves.

This paper demonstrates the parameters based on which resuscitation skills can be taught in a school. Together with existing literature for the ages of six to eight years it defines minimal age, and more importantly describes that learning and providing CPR skills is related to physical ability rather than chronological age. It AV-951 clearly has implications on how and who will be taught in school. It strongly endorses the fact that these skills can be taught and retained for at least 120 days.