1) What benefits are there for the pupils in learning CPR?
2) Are secondary school age pupils able to learn CPR?
3) Does a bystander giving CPR really improve the prognosis of someone who has had a heart attack?
4) Could I/my pupils be sued for giving CPR?
5) Could I/my pupils catch something from giving CPR?
6) What do you teach?
7) How do you teach?
8) How are you qualified to teach?
9) Do you have CRB checks?
10) How much does the scheme cost?
11) How long does a session last/how many sessions are there?
12) How many pupils can you teach?
13) What ages can you teach?
14) What preparation is needed before a session?
If you have a question which is not answered, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
1) What benefits are there for the pupils in learning CPR?
Research papers have suggested that learning CPR makes pupils more ready to deal with emergencies and improves their self-esteem and confidence. It also provides them with a skill which could possibly save someone’s life. Back to top.
2) Are secondary school age pupils able to learn CPR?
Research has shown that CPR can be done effectively by children aged 11 and over. Studies investigating the retention of CPR skills have shown that most people taught CPR will still be able to do it to an acceptable standard one year after they have been trained. Other research has suggested that children are more likely to use CPR skills they have been taught than adults. So the answer is yes, secondary school age pupils can learn CPR and may in fact be amongst the best candidates for doing so! Back to top.
3) Does a bystander giving CPR really improve the prognosis of someone who has had a heart attack?
Yes. A study by Herlitz et al (2005) involving over 29,000 patients who had had heart attacks found that those who had received bystander CPR were twice as likely to survive compared to those who had not received bystander CPR. Many other studies have shown how the earlier CPR is given, the better the prognosis for the patient is. Back to top.
4) Could I/my pupils be sued for giving CPR?
In the UK there has not yet been a single successful claim against a layperson who has provided emergency first aid, and the House of Lords has previously adopted the “principle of necessity” to protect those giving emergency first aid against claims for trespass against the person. To be prosecuted for being negligent, the patient would have to be left in a worse state than the one in which they were found; assuming the rescuer has properly checked vital signs, the patient was found dead, and since there is no claim for “wrongful life” under UK law it is not possible for them to be left in a worse state. This would therefore imply that unless a rescuer was exceedingly feckless and grossly negligent they need not fear prosecution for their actions. (adapted from http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/legal.htm)
5) Could I/my pupils catch something from giving CPR?
Bierens and Berden (1996) calculated that the risk of contracting HIV from giving CPR was less than one in a billion. In 30 years worth of literature (reviewed by Mejicarno and Maki, 1998) just 15 cases of serious diseases being contracted from CPR have been recorded; in this period of time CPR would have been before literally millions of times. The biggest risk would be catching a cold sore, just like kissing someone with a cold sore could give you one. Back to top.
6) What do you teach?
We teach the basics of life support including:
Basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Recognising signs preceding a heart attack
The recovery position
Dealing with bleeding
Dealing with choking
Back to top.
7) How do you teach?
We teach mainly in small groups with 5/6 pupils around a manikin with one medical student teaching each group. Back to top.
8) How are you qualified to teach?
We are not teachers, nor do we profess to be, which is why a teacher must always be present while we conduct a session. However, we are trained in teaching CPR – each member of CPRiS undergoes a 3 part training program:
1 – recap of basic life support skills with a doctor
2 – CPR teaching training with the head of resuscitation at a Bristol hospital,
followed by an assessment to ensure they are able to teach
3 – a session on how to engage with secondary school age pupils held by a former
secondary school teacher
Every year all members must attend a recap session and have their skills reassess by the clinical trainer.
In addition to this we are all medical students, so all of this is on top of basic life support training we have done as part of our course, and we have most likely also done CPR ‘in real life’ and so have an insight into what it is actually like beyond just the theory.
9) Do you have CRB checks?
As medical students we all have enhanced CRB checks done before we are allowed to do clinical placements. Photocopies of these can be provided if needed. Back to top.
10) How much does the scheme cost?
CPRiS is free to schools, so it will cost you nothing for us to come and teach. Back to top.
11) How long does a session last/how many sessions are there?
We are flexible in accommodating school’s needs but generally sessions are 60 to 90 minutes long. We can also do 2 session each an hour long. Back to top.
12) How many pupils can you teach?
We prefer to teach in small groups of 5/6 to ensure all pupils have enough ‘hands on’ time practicing CPR. The maximum number is therefore 36. Back to top.
13) What ages can you teach?
We can teach any year from year 7. Back to top.
14) What preparation is needed before a session?
No prior preparation is needed. All we need is a room large enough for 5 or 6 groups sitting around manikins, so a gym or drama studio is ideal. Since everyone will be sitting on the floor, a clean floor is a good idea! We bring the manikins and all other equipment needed. Back to top.