Targeting high-risk cardiac patients and their family members for basic life support training

Currently in Australia, there is disparity between those who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and those most likely to witness a cardiac arrest. As patients with known cardiac disease are at seven times greater risk of suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and 75% of cardiac arrests occur in the home, it is important that family members of cardiac patients are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Providing training during cardiac rehabilitation is a logical setting for training, yet is seldom included in programs in Australia. This program of research found that incorporating CPR training into cardiac rehabilitation was feasible and well accepted by cardiac patients and their family members.