Paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program in Latin-America: the RIBEPCI experience

Jesús López-Herce, Martha M. Matamoros, Luis Moya, Enma Almonte, Diana Coronel, Javier Urbano, Ángel Carrillo, Red de Estudio Iberoamericano de estudio de la parada cardiorrespiratoria en la infancia (RIBEPCI), Jimena del Castillo, Santiago Mencía, Ramón Moral, Flora Ordoñez, Carlos Sánchez, Lina Lagos, María Johnson, Ovidio Mendoza, Sandra Rodriguez

To describe the design and to present the results of a paediatric and neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training program adapted to Latin-America. A paediatric CPR coordinated training project was set up in several Latin-American countries with the instructional and scientific support of the Spanish Group for Paediatric and Neonatal CPR. The program was divided into four phases: CPR training and preparation of instructors; training for instructors; supervised teaching; and independent teaching. Instructors from each country participated in the development of the next group in the following country. Paediatric Basic Life Support (BLS), Paediatric Intermediate (ILS) and Paediatric Advanced (ALS) courses were organized in each country adapted to local characteristics. Five Paediatric Resuscitation groups were created sequentially in Honduras (2), Guatemala, Dominican Republican and Mexico. During 5 years, 6 instructors courses (94 students), 64 Paediatric BLS Courses (1409 students), 29 Paediatrics ILS courses (626 students) and 89 Paediatric ALS courses (1804 students) were given. At the end of the program all five groups are autonomous and organize their own instructor courses. Training of autonomous Paediatric CPR groups with the collaboration and scientific assessment of an expert group is a good model program to develop Paediatric CPR training in low- and middle income countries. Participation of groups of different countries in the educational activities is an important method to establish a cooperation network.