CPR Hospital-Initiated Training Project (CHIP)

Scope of the Problem: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an easy-to-learn technique that can double a victims
chance of survival if provided immediately and effectively. Despite this, less than one third of out-of-hospital cardiac
arrest victims receive CPR from an observer. Several barriers prevent widespread CPR education dissemination to the
public, such as the need for a trained CPR-certified instructor to conduct the course and the cost and length of a course
itself. In addition, many CPR training activities occur at the workplace or in school among younger healthier subjects.
However, most sudden cardiac arrests occur in the home and witnesses present for such events are likely to be spouses
or similarly-aged family members rather than their younger trained counterparts.
CPR Hospital-Initiated Training Project (CHIP) Overview: The goal of CHIP is to use the hospital as a unique point of
capture to empower at-risk families with the life-saving tool of CPR.
Video Self-Instruction (VSI): One of the CPR
training tools we use is American Heart
Associations CPR Anytime kit which is a 25minute program complete with a personal
inflatable manikin and instructional DVD.
VSI overcomes many of the barriers to
traditional CPR courses (which are often time consuming and expensive) and emphasizes hands-on practice time,
allowing participants to gain confidence with the skills they have learned and share the valuable skills with others.
CPR App: One of the CPR training tools we have developed is a comprehensive mobile CPR app. The app includes a 25minute American Heart Association training video promoting hands-only CPR (available in both English and Spanish), CPR
facts and statistics, AED use instruction, FAQs, and more. The CPR app overcomes many of the barriers to traditional CPR
courses (which are often time consuming, expensive, and classroom based) and emphasizes an interactive mobile videoonly learning method, allowing participants to learn, refresh, and share their CPR skills anywhere, anytime.
Current Project: We offer CPR training on the cardiac step-down and telemetry units at The Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital, where volunteers, who are trained but not certified to teach CPR, offer CPR
training to family members of eligible patients. Through this targeted training program, many family members of at
risk patients learned the life-saving skill of CPR.
The goal of the current program is to develop a more sustainable CPR training model by using
resources within the hospital, such as volunteers, to offer the life-saving skill of CPR to family
members of patients with cardiovascular risk factors.
CPR Training Process: The CPR training can take place anywhere it is convenient- if there is
enough space, you can train the individual in the patients room, or you may take the family
member to a nearby family waiting room or conference room. The volunteers will just wheel the
cart and equipment into the room of choice and follow a simple four-step process! This is fun,
easy and could save a life!
Questions - please contact the Project Manager: Audrey L. Blewer, MPH at Audrey.blewer@uphs.upenn.edu
Principal Investigator: Benjamin S. Abella, MD, MPhil

Project Manager: Audrey L. Blewer, MPH

Primary Study Site: Center for Resuscitation Science, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104