Regional School-Based CPR Training With Low-Cost Manikin Delivered by School Nurses: The Home “Multiplier” Effect
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and community reach of a regional, nurse-led school cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) program using hand-made low-cost manikins, and to quantify the multiplying effect of student-led CPR teaching at home. METHODS: Prospective observational study in public and publicly funded private schools in Murcia, Spain (between June and August 2025). Community school nurses (one per health area; n=9) received standardized preparation and delivered a ∼60-minute basic life support session to intact classes of students aged 10 to 12 years old. Students built a low-cost manikin and were invited to teach CPR to a family member/close contact at home and submit a WhatsApp video. Two independent CPR experts, not involved in training delivery, scored eligible videos using an 11-item checklist (total 0 to 11); disagreements were resolved by consensus. Primary outcomes were school reach and multiplying effect (home trainees per participating student); secondary outcomes included video-based CPR performance scores. RESULTS: Nurses trained 1,047 students. The at-home activity was completed by 472/1,047 students (45.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.1 to 48.1), who trained 1,136 family members/close contacts (multiplying effect 2.41 per student; 95% CI 2.27 to 2.55). Of 1,136 submitted videos, 489 were analyzable (43.0%; 95% CI 40.2 to 45.9). Trainees achieved a mean total performance score of 7.8/11 (95% CI 7.63 to 7.97), with higher scores for recognition/activation and chest compressions than for automated external defibrillator request/simulated use. CONCLUSION: A community-nurse-delivered school CPR program using a low-cost manikin was feasible and produced a substantial home-training multiplier. Video-assessed performance of key basic life support steps was generally adequate, whereas automated external defibrillator-related actions were weaker.
Source: Annals of Emergency Medicine
Authors: Manuel Pardos Ríos, Carmen A. López López, Robert Greif, Daniel Guillén Martínez, Cristina Cerezo Espinosa, Petronila M. Alcázar Artero, Ana Garcia-Rubio, Alba García-Viola, José M. Garrido-Molina, Verónica V. Márquez-Hernández, Roberto Barcala Furelos, Santiago Martinez-Isasi, Juan Manuel Lucas Gómez, Ana Fátima Navarro Oliver, Francisco Celdrán Gil, Remedios Gómez Sánchez, María José González Guirao, María José Martínez Soto, Verónica Bermúdez García, María Hortelano Saorín, Ana Rosa Lozano Magdalena, Maravillas Sánchez Ródenas, Soledad Oliva Cañada, Nazaret Jara Serrano, María José Barea Manuel
Institutions: Universidad Católica de Murcia, University of Bern, Santa Lucía University General Hospital, University of Alicante, Andalusian Health Service, Hospital HLA Mediterráneo, University of Almería, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Universidade de Vigo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,850
Award: G3427754659
OpenAlex ID: W7160705443