ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Education of adult laypersons in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been done frequently and done worldwide. Effective performance of bystander CPR has a decisive effect on outcomes for children as well as for adults. Although the chance of coming into contact with cardiac arrest and acute airway obstruction in a child is relatively high, there are only a few studies of the performance of CPR and abdominal thrust (Heimlich maneuver) done by teachers in child care centers. Therefore, we investigated the effects of CPR and abdominal thrust (Heimlich maneuver) education on teachers in child care centers, especially on their confidence and attitude while performing CPR and Heimlich maneuvers. METHODS: Between August 2009 and October 2009, 245 participants who worked in child care centers received 2 hours of education regarding CPR & emergency procedures for airway obstruction (Heimlich maneuver, abdominal thrust). Participants were asked questions (using a questionnaire) about their confidence and willingness to perform bystander CPR & the Heimlich maneuver. These questions were asked both before their education session and afterwards. Those who answered that they wouldn't perform bystander CPR & Heimlich maneuvers were asked to state the reason. In addition, participants were asked if they were aware of the law exempts from liability bystanders who are not health care providers and who provide CPR or Heimlich as an emergency procedure. RESULTS: The 'definitely yes' answer to 'willingness to perform CPR and abdominal thrust on a child increased from 33.1%, 41.2% before the education session to, respectively, 82.9%, 86.9% afterward (p<0.001). If we included 'yes' and 'relatively yes' answers, the accuracy of performance of acute airway obstruction (abdominal thrust, Heimlich maneuver) increased from 36% before education to 86.9% after. Meanwhile, the reasons for not performing bystander CPR and abdominal thrust, the ratio of 'fear of disease transmission' and 'fear of legal liability' was high in comparison to the ratio of 'fear of poor knowledge/performance'. Only 20.8% answered 'yes' to 'awareness that the law provided exemptions from liability for bystanders doing such emergency procedures. CONCLUSION: Adequate, constant education, including theoretical and practical child CPR and emergency maneuvers for acute airway obstruction of non-health care providers increased their confidence, accuracy and willingness to perform bystander CPR and abdominal thrust maneuvers.