Teaching children basic lifesaving skills, such as how to call 911 and administer CPR, can start as young as age 4, the American Heart Association (AHA) and other experts advise in a new scientific statement published on May 17.
With regular training in basic life support at an early age, children can be adept at these actions by middle school.
A 4-year-old who can identify when to call an emergency telephone number becomes a 10-year-old who may begin to perform effective chest compressions, according to the AHA, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), and the European Resuscitation Council.
The writing group of resuscitation scientists reviewed more than 100 research articles about training students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The review, published in the journal Circulation, found that school-aged children are not only highly motivated to learn lifesaving skills but often pass on what they’ve learned to others, multiplying the benefits….