Evaluation of BLS-D training in lay people.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of saving persons with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) lowers of 10% every minute since the beginning of the event. The early defibrillation (within 4 min) of a person with SCA performed by first responders suitably trained increases the survival rate up to 50%. The basic aim is that early defibrillation is performed as soon as possible by the first responder. METHODS: Within the Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) "Napoli Cuore" Project, 220 highway patrol agents of the Campania Region district were trained through theoretical and practical courses to acquire suitable psychomotor skills to perform the first aid. The learning evaluation was performed with a written exam and a practical test to assess how much every agent had learned about basic life support-defibrillation (BLS-D) schemes. RESULTS: 98.5% of the participants passed the exams and obtained the BLS-D rescuer license, and 15.5% of them obtained the highest score. The analysis of the report cards showed that most of the participants expressed an excellent opinion about this experience. CONCLUSIONS: To implement a PAD project it is necessary to awaken all the structures involved in the campaign against SCA. Hence, it is important that all emergency specialists, public institutions and police departments work all together to make everyone feels safe