AUTHOR=Calicchia Sara , Capanna Silvia , De Rosa Mariangela , Papaleo Bruno , Pera Alessandra 

TITLE=Six years of spreading BLSD skills in schools: empowering teachers as trainers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1454603

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1454603

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Introduction
To improve emergency response capabilities, life-saving skills should become automatic and universally acquired, starting in schools through regular, practical retraining. Teachers can serve as ideal multipliers, but effective pathways to train and motivate them are needed, as Basic Life Support and Defibrillation (BLSD) skills are not included in their academic training. This study explores innovative training solutions and facilitating factors to enhance BLSD education in schools, focusing on training and motivating teachers.
Methods
An in-service training program for teachers was provided and assessed in a middle school in central Italy. The study compared the skills of students trained by teachers with those trained by certified instructors, immediately after the course and six months later, through hands-on simulation. Over five years, the project expanded to three more schools. Researchers monitored classroom implementation, offering support in resolving critical issues.
Results
Quantitative assessments showed significant differences in student abilities immediately after the course, which diminished after six months. Teachers gained confidence and effectively taught BLSD skills. Over five years, 5,661 students were trained, with a ratio of 1 teacher for every 111 students. Sustainability factors included regular retraining, updated free materials, internal coordinators, and allowing flexibility in course delivery.
Conclusion
Teachers are ideal BLSD knowledge multipliers, but they require continuous training, updated educational materials, and adequate technological support to be effective. Future research should explore scaling the train-the-trainer model to larger areas, focusing on adapting it to different socio-economic contexts and overcoming organizational and motivational barriers.