PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 6 December 2004, pp. 1676 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2020)

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POLICY STATEMENT

Role of Pediatricians in Advocating Life Support Training Courses for Parents and the Public

	ABSTRACT

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 
Available literature suggests a need for both initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation basic life support training and refresher courses for parents and the public as well as health care professionals. The promotion of basic life support training courses that establish a pediatric chain of survival spanning from prevention of cardiac arrest and trauma to rehabilitative and follow-up care for victims of cardiopulmonary arrest is advocated in this policy statement and is the focus of an accompanying technical report. Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation for victims of cardiac arrest improves survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Pediatricians will improve the chance of survival of children and adults who experience cardiac arrest by advocating for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and participating in basic life support training courses as participants and instructors.

Key Words: basic life support training courses • cardiopulmonary resuscitation • CPR • cardiac arrest • community education • parents • school children • automated external defibrillator • chain of survival

	INTRODUCTION

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 
Childhood out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a traumatic event for the entire community. Outcome is determined by timeliness of implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The establishment of a pediatric chain of survival for victims of cardiopulmonary arrest is advocated in this policy statement. Pediatricians are asked to advocate for basic life support training whenever possible in their local community.

	RECOMMENDATIONS

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 

1. Pediatricians should promote parental education in pediatric basic life support. Families of children with special health care needs, neonatal intensive care unit graduates, children who have ready access to water, or children who are active in water sports should be especially encouraged to undergo training and should be assisted in obtaining access to the training.
   
2. Pediatricians should encourage and collaborate with parents to promote basic life support training for adolescents, parents, caregivers, school personnel, youth leaders, and coaches to build the "chain of survival" in the community.
   
3. Basic life support training for the aforementioned groups should be advocated in policy advisory discussions at all governmental levels with a goal of making the training readily available and affordable.
   
4. Pediatricians and pediatric subspecialty providers should lead by example by taking and teaching basic life support training courses.
   

	Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine, 2002–2003

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 
^*Jane F. Knapp, MD, Chairperson

Thomas Bojko, MD

Margaret A. Dolan, MD

Ronald A. Furnival, MD

Steven E. Krug, MD

Deborah Mulligan-Smith, MD

Richard M. Ruddy, MD

Kathy N. Shaw, MD, MSCE

^*Lee A. Pyles, MD, Past Committee Member

	Liaisons

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 
Jane Ball, RN, DrPH

EMSC National Resource Center

Kathleen Brown, MD

National Association of EMS Physicians

Dan Kavanaugh, MSW

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Sharon E. Mace, MD

American College of Emergency Physicians

David W. Tuggle, MD

American College of Surgeons

	Staff

TOP ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS Committee on Pediatric Emergency... Liaisons Staff

 
Susan Tellez

	FOOTNOTES

 
^* Lead authors

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