Aussie KIDS SAVE LIVES Program: A pilot evaluation of basic life support education in Australian secondary schools

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Teaching basic life support (BLS) skills to school children has the potential to equip future generations to respond effectively to cardiac arrest. The Aussie KIDS SAVE LIVES pilot program aimed to evaluate the feasibility and usability of teacher-led resources for a 50-minute "Call, Push, Shock" BLS lesson delivered to students in years 7-8 (ages 11-14) in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Victorian secondary schools were invited to participate in the pilot from November 2022 to December 2023. Teachers and students were invited to complete online evaluation surveys. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to assess the effectiveness of the training materials and achievement of the program's learning objectives. RESULTS: A total of 56 schools volunteered to participate. Surveys were completed by 25 teachers and 700 students in the pilot period. Teachers reported the training kits and PowerPoint slides as the most useful tools. Students with prior cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training reported greater confidence in performing CPR (66.8% vs 50.5%, p < 0.001). Among students, 97% found the kit easy to use, and 53% said they would share what they learned. Students appreciated the hands-on learning and the opportunity to acquire life-saving skills, although some noted challenges, such as the physical demands of CPR. CONCLUSION: The pilot demonstrated that a short, teacher-led BLS session is feasible and well-received. The resources were user-friendly, and the program successfully enhanced students' confidence and motivation to engage with life-saving skills. Findings also reinforce the value of repeated training which aligns with recommendations for annual CPR education in schools.