SUMMARY

Integrating Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training into High School Curriculum for

Early Practice of Students Basic Life Support skills
I Gusti Ayu Putu Wahyu Widiantari

Cardiovascular disease is still being the most cause of death in the world. From the
survey conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004, estimated for 17.1 million
people died (29.1% of total deaths) due to cardiovascular disease. In Indonesia, based on the
Basic Health Research (RISKESDAS) in 2007, the national prevalence of heart disease is 7.2%.
In 2030, WHO estimates 23,6 deaths because of cardiovascular disease.
The most manifestations of complications from Cardiovascular disease is sudden cardiac
arrest, whis is fatal occurence. According to the American Heart Organization (AHA), the
incidence of sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in the United States and Canada
in 2010. To maintain viability, especially when sudden cardiac arrest occurs, should be taken
basic life support immediately. Basic life support , well known in public as cardiac pulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), can be defined as a basic healthcare services that performed on patients
suffering from life-threatening illness untill the patients health services in plenary (AHA, 2010).
In Advanced Cardiac Life Support Guidelines 2010, basic life support will give the best results if

performed within the first 5 minutes while the patient is unconscious by using automated
external defibrillators (AEDs).
Based on data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) United States,
about 330,000 people died from coronary heart disease outside the hospital or in the emergency
room, and 250,000 of them died outside the hospital. In addition to the paramedics, the laity also
serves as the bystander of basic life support outside of hospital. To maintain the quality of
bystanders, both laity and paramedics, need basic life support training in a comprehensive
integrated methods.
Given the importance of basic life support in determining the success rate of subsequent
medical treatment and patient survival , in 2003 , the International Liaison Committee on
Resuscitation (ILCOR) strongly recommended that CPR training be integrated into the standard

school curriculum . An observational study by Jones et al in 2007 assessed the children in the
study ranged in age from 9 through 14 years to achieve adequate chest compressions for adult
victims. It showed that only the 13- to 14-year-olds performed chest compression as well as
adults.
Based on the studies that have been done , it can be concluded that CPR training is recommended
and could be made as part of the standard school curriculum . CPR training can be packaged in
the form of lesson plans with a structured schedule so it would not disturb the learning schedule
of other subjects. CPR training should be given as early as possible in children, but considering
the importance of providing adequate chest compressions , CPR training will be given to
students aged 13 years or more , which is the age of high school students . Therefore , CPR
training could be integrated into the standard high school curriculum to train students in
providing adequate basic life support early on. The author hopes that the cooperation of all
parties could integrate CPR training into the curriculum of high schools so that the program
could be realized appropriately and well targeted .