Preparing the Community to Improve the Odds of Cardiac Arrest Survival

Embedding high-quality CPR training in schools statewide

Full Project Name:Preparing the Community to Improve the Odds of Cardiac Arrest SurvivalPrimary Community Organization:Cooperative Educational Services Agency #7 (CESA)Primary Academic Partner:E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, Emergency MedicineAward Amount:$491,269

Award Date

July2016

Project Duration:30 months

Project Description Narrative:

In Wisconsin, cardiac arrest causes over 6,500 deaths annually. The likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest is a dismal 10%. When bystanders immediately provide CPR to a cardiac arrest victim, survival rates double or even triple. Project partners aim to increase sudden cardiac arrest survival in Wisconsin by creating the infrastructure for schools to provide high-quality CPR training to every student, creating a generational shift where all Wisconsin citizens are prepared and ready to act so that all Wisconsin citizens become a key piece in the chain of survival by being ready to act if they encounter a cardiac arrest victim.

Community partners:
American Heart Association, Cooperative Educational Service Agencies of Wisconsin, Marshfield Clinic, Northern Highland Area Health Education Center, Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, Project ADAM Wisconsin, Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Association, Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Association, Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, Wisconsin Professional Police Association

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Partners have been successful in creating the infrastructure that will lead to generational shift in students regarding giving CPR
Since the start of this program, partners have contacted 631 schools including all the school districts in Wisconsin as well as all the private and standalone charter schools. Of those schools, 332 participated in the evidence-based training
All 332 schools had at least one teacher trained by our program (goal was 300 ? 500 schools)
CESA 7 is committed to continuing the CPR in Schools Program. Annually CESA 7 will hold sectional meetings around the State of Wisconsin to train new Health Teachers in the use of the Program. CESA 7 has the agreement of the eleven other CESA's to continue to loan-out CPR In Schools Kits