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"The current landscape of CPR training in the UK is a complex picture. According to recent statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), over 23 million adults in the UK have not learned CPR, with nearly half of the adult population lacking this lifesaving skill."
The provision of effective CPR is a fundamental lifesaving skill that significantly improves survival rates in cardiac arrest scenarios. However, despite the widely recognised importance of CPR training, accessing the vital skill sets still remains challenging for vast numbers of people.
Here, we aim to explore the current barriers to CPR training, look into the efficacy of CPR training, and determine how to make skill access more readily available to communities.
What is the Current State of CPR Training Accessibility?
The current landscape of CPR training in the UK is a complex picture. According to recent statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF), over 23 million adults in the UK have not learned CPR, with nearly half of the adult population lacking this lifesaving skill.
This trend is not exclusive to the UK, either, with a study into the global prevalence of CPR training finding that the proportion of people with recent education is still generally low. Indeed, no more than 34% of respondents to the study had received training within the last 12 months.
These studies clearly show that barriers to accessible CPR training prevent communities from accessing the necessary lifesaving skills.
What are the Barriers to CPR Training?
The accessibility of CPR training is likely being impeded by various barriers. Research has highlighted the perceived barriers to administering bystander CPR in less affluent communities, emphasising issues related to accessing CPR training as well as a lack of previous experience with BLS education.
The identified challenges to the provisions of bystander CPR in high-risk regions have underscored the crucial need for language-appropriate training to address linguistic barriers that may exist.
The cost has emerged as a notable barrier.
A 2022 study explored the barriers and facilitators to delivering bystander CPR in various communities. The research found that cost was a significant issue for many people attempting to access resuscitation training.
Not only was the price of the class or training session itself considered, but the assessment also took into account related financial burdens associated with childcare and transport. The review suggested that this was likely to disproportionately impact low-income families with reduced access to support in these areas.
Geographical limitations are a growing concern.
Linking with the previous reference to cost barriers to accessible CPR training, the influence of geography on attaining BLS skills. This can occur as a particular issue in more rural communities with poorer transport links and a more disparate population.
Challenges can include the distance needed to travel to healthcare facilities and limited access to a lower number of professionals. However, the typically slower response time that occurs in areas with geographical challenges makes proper CPR training crucial.
There is a need for greater awareness of CPR training.
In general, there is excellent public awareness of the importance of CPR training, with 89% of UK adults believing that CPR is vital. However, in contrast to this, research published in the BMJ found that there is a lack of popularisation of CPR training from hospitals and other medical organisations and generally low awareness of how to access CPR training.
How Can We Improve the Accessibility of CPR Training?
Digital resources have also been identified as valuable tools in expanding CPR education. The use of mobile applications and online platforms for CPR training has been explored, with findings suggesting their effectiveness in reaching diverse populations and overcoming barriers to CPR training related to cost and awareness.
On top of this, digital resources like Brayden Online offer scalable and cost-effective solutions to enhance both CPR training accessibility and efficiency.
Above: Brayden Online App in use
Community-Based Training Programs
The potential of community-based training programs has emerged as a promising approach. Studies indicate the effectiveness in increasing bystander CPR rates and enhancing community resilience. In conjunction with this, BLS trainers can leverage community infrastructures and groups to disseminate CPR training, which has shown potential in overcoming both geographical and awareness limitations.
Representative and Inclusive Training
A crucial step in broadening access to CPR training is to make sure that education takes place in an inclusive manner. Previously, we’ve spoken about the importance of CPR training that reflects community diversities and discussed how vital it is that CPR education programs are representative of the groups they serve. Failure to do this can lead to alienation and a lack of engagement from vast numbers of people, representing a significant barrier to CPR training.
Harnessing Social Media
The internet and social media have been shown as excellent tools for improving access to and results from CPR training. From the BHF’s RevivR interactive course to more family-friendly options like Snapchat’s CPR filter and Spotify’s CPR playlist, the powerful influence that social media can have on raising CPR training awareness is not to be underestimated.
Above: Snapchat’s CPR Filter Source: Snap Newsroom
Are You Looking for Intuitive CPR Training Manikins?
Engaging people with CPR is a crucial step, but so is ensuring that the training offered is effective. At Innosonian, we provide a wide range of CPR training manikins that are proven to result in high levels of competence from learners.
Our products encompass all ages, from the Brayden Baby, Junior, and Adult manikins. The intuitive LED system allows learners to instantly assess the efficacy of their resuscitation, while the realistic design helps to prepare them for real-life CPR situations.
By utilising the Brayden Pro range, instructors and learners can experience the benefits of the Brayden Online app. This tool provides objective and quantifiable feedback, supporting educators and students in improving the quality of their resuscitation and monitoring their progress.
To find out more about the solutions we offer, please feel free to contact our team today.
