In future, cardiac arrest teams may require current evidence of their skills

BMJ 1995;310:1266 (13 May)

Letters

In future, cardiac arrest teams may require current evidence of their skills

EDITOR,--We agree with P F S Prior-Willeard and J David thatresuscitation skills fall short of satisfactory standards, evenin those who are members of cardiac arrest teams.¹ A recentlycompleted audit of cardiac arrest procedures at our hospitalshowed that the guidelines issued by the European ResuscitationCouncil in 1992² were unavailable at 25 of 77 (32% (95% confidenceinterval 22% to 44%)) cardiac arrest calls. Furthermore, theseguidelines were followed in only 55 of 68 (81% (70% to 89%))cardiac arrests for which they were applicable. We also foundthat early management of the airway in cardiac arrests was ineffectivein 38 of 76 cases (50% (38% to 62%)).

The anaesthetic department in our hospital is leading the wayin resuscitation training and is shortly to require each ofits members formally to demonstrate proficiency in basic lifesupport. In North America the possession of a certificate confirming. . . [Full text of this article]

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