Released by Stepik in February 2019, this free short course teaches the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It achieves its stated aim of educating the layperson in CPR so they might have some confidence to attempt it if they ever witness a cardiac arrest. The victim then has a better chance of surviving until medical assistance arrives. So far, 104 people have signed up for this course.
Background
According to the course information, about 3 million people die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. Many lives could be saved if bystanders, including friends or relatives of the victim, were confident enough to start CPR without delay. So, if you witness a cardiac arrest, don’t just stand around, try CPR.
About ten years ago, I took a two-day first aid course run by my local ambulance station. When I discovered this online course, I decided to refresh my knowledge of CPR.
Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation was written by Dr Alexei Birkun and Visith Risira Dantanarayana and produced by the Crimean Simulation Center for Emergency Medicine.
Course Format
It starts with a few quiz questions to ascertain your current knowledge of CPR, then has some easy pages to read. The pages include pictures and diagrams which break up the text. The first two videos demonstrate Hands Only CPR to the Bee Gees’ tune of Stayin’ Alive – a useful memory handle to remember how fast to pump the heart.
The course consists of four modules (lessons) followed by a quiz and reference section. Each lesson is locked until the previous one has been completed.
- Background and Introduction
- The Algorithm and the First Steps
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Basic Life Support)
- Resuscitation of Сhildren, Defibrillation, Recovery position
The videos are short, generally between 1-3 minutes.
Quiz questions have unlimited attempts so you can learn from your mistakes. I took several tries to select the correct answers for one, but after eventually reviewing the relevant page, finally understood the point I had missed. I found this a useful feature, because if I had limited tries at the quiz, I would have missed that particular point entirely.
It covers a surprising amount of material in such a short course.
I found the final module interesting, with information about resuscitation of children and using defibrillators if they are available. I would have preferred a video rather than just a page to read, to highlight the differences between resuscitating children and adults even though the basic procedures are the same. Similarly, while the information about Automated External Defibrillators (
At the end was a reminder to review the course frequently to keep the procedures fresh in your mind. It will be updated regularly if new information or procedures are introduced.
In Summary
The course has videos, readings, online resources, and a final quiz with some easy and a few challenging questions. Several questions are scattered throughout the course to help check your knowledge. Some of the questions in the final quiz are exactly the same as the practice questions, so it pays to make sure you understand them. This free course does not offer a certificate.
A Final Thought
Learn CPR and don’t be afraid to help if you ever witness a sudden cardiac arrest. You might save a life!
By Pat Bowden, published April 2, 2019.
