[Teaching of basic heart-lung reanimation to the general public].

Objective: To analyse the efficacy of training in basic paediatric and adult heart-lung reanimation by means of theoretical/practical courses for the general public.
Design: Prospective and observational study.
Setting: Chamberi Municipal Health Centre, Madrid.
Participants: 360 people aged from 13 to 75.
Interventions: From 1999 to 2003, 381 people took 26 courses in prevention of accidents and response to them. Theoretical classes in prevention of cardiac/respiratory arrest and in basic heart-lung reanimation (HLR) and practical classes in HLR were given to groups of 5 or 6 students, using dummies of babies, children, and adults.
Main Measurements: At the start and end of the course, 17.2% of the participants were assessed for their theoretical knowledge; and 94.5% had a practical assessment of their HLR skills. At the end of the course all students filled in an anonymous satisfaction questionnaire.
Results: In the initial theoretical assessment, the mean score was 3.5+/-1.5 (out of a maximum of 10); in the final assessment, 7.7+/-1.7 (P<.01). 87.2% of participants achieved sufficient practical skills. In the questionnaire, the participants thought the course was very useful for daily life and felt more able to take action.
Conclusions: The basic HLR courses for the general public provide useful theoretical and practical training and manage to improve peoples ability to react correctly and so resolve emergency situations.