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Teaching kids CPR for emergencies could save thousands of lives each year[mfn]thelancet.com[/mfn], according to an article published in The Lancet. In countries where CPR training is mandatory in schools, lay resuscitation occurs 60-75% of the time, and survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can be tripled.
When provided with the necessary skills, children and teens can even save lives before they reach adulthood. One Arizonan 13-year-old saved his baseball coach’s life[mfn]abcnews.go.com[/mfn] by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The only questions are how and when to teach it. Learn the 7 Steps of CPR, Complete Guide to Life-Saving Techniques.
According to research from ABC News, nearly 9 out of 10 children aged 9-18 could perform CPR correctly[mfn]abcnews.go.com[/mfn] after participating in hands-on training. However, because physical strength is also a factor in delivering chest compressions effectively, the European Resuscitation Council recommends teaching CPR to children 12 years of age and above[mfn]cms.erc.edu[/mfn]. In many U.S. states, AED training requirements mandate CPR for high school students.
Young children don’t have the necessary strength to perform chest compressions on an adult. However, there are still several benefits to teaching CPR and first aid to kids. In first aid and CPR courses, children will learn:
Whether the training is delivered in class or in a community venue, schoolchildren should learn a range of life-saving skills that they can use at home, at school, and in their community. In addition to resuscitation with chest compressions and rescue breaths, children should learn:
If you are a qualified trainer who is interested in delivering a CPR course to students, it’s important to adapt the content to suit the way that children learn. If you teach the class using best-practice techniques, not only will the children be much more excited to get involved, but they are also more likely to remember the skills that are taught in the class.
Performing CPR is a hands-on skill, and teaching kids CPR should be too. When teaching CPR and first aid in schools, give students repeated opportunities to practice each skill and receive feedback on their technique.
Young children also have a much shorter attention span than adults. For younger children especially, you will need to break the class up into short segments—depending on the total length of the class—and give the kids a chance to refresh by changing activities, doing some stretches, or learning a CPR-related song and dance.
When taken out of their usual routine, children are more likely to act up. As the instructor, you will need to be proactive in setting the rules and expectations for the CPR class, such as:
If you set clear boundaries and model appropriate behavior yourself (such as by turning off your phone during the class), things will flow much more smoothly and you might even have time to cover the material in more depth.
The other side of the discipline coin is providing fun incentives. For example, you could give stickers, pencils, or treats to young students who ask a great question, provide a correct answer, or put in a lot of effort to learn.
For older high-school-aged kids, you’ll need to consider different types of incentives, such as extra credit or participation points (assuming you’re teaching CPR as part of a health class). Observe each student directly, and make sure they understand the essentials.
To deliver a CPR and first aid course effectively, we recommend several tools for hands-on practice, including:
Most CPR course[mfn]arthurglosmandds.com[/mfn] providers offer a school training kit that certified instructors can take with them to use in the classroom. This school training kit will contain all of the tools that you need for a group of 10 to 20 students.
When teaching kids CPR, it’s also a good idea to teach the students how to use an automated external defibrillator — especially if the students are at least high-school age. Research shows that AED use combined with CPR can more than triple a patient’s odds of survival, and many high schools already have an AED on site that bystanders can use in an emergency.
For schools, two of the most recommended models are the Physio-Control LIFEPAK CR2 and the Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 due to their simple operation, pediatric functionality, and bilingual capabilities. Please note that, for training purposes, you will want to acquire a trainer version of the AED, such as the Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 AED Trainer.
For more information, check out our guide to how to choose the best AED for schools.
CPR training is currently mandatory for high school graduation in every state except:
Even though it isn’t mandatory to teach kids CPR in these states, courses may still be available for children and teens. The more people who know how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the better the chances that a victim of sudden cardiac arrest will survive.
Teaching CPR to children and teens is one of the most powerful tools available to reduce death rates from sudden cardiac arrest. The better trained a population is, the more likely a bystander will step in to perform lifesaving techniques and keep the victim alive until emergency medical services arrive.
If you are a CPR instructor with an interest in empowering the community, equip yourself with the knowledge, tools, and certifications needed to teach CPR to kids. It’s an important investment in our children today that may end up saving many lives.
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