Nursing and health care perspectives
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In the 1960s, the concept of saving lives through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was a revolutionary idea. In the 1990s, CPR is a household word, and CPR classes are taught to both medical and nonmedical groups. The layperson is a critical link in the chain of survival for cardiac arrests (1). ⋯ Studies have revealed that bystanders trained in CPR often fail to recognize emergencies and typically delay the initiation of CPR when emergencies are present. A change in the approach to CPR instruction is needed. CPR instructors are encouraged to develop innovative teaching strategies that enhance learning and meet the goal of community CPR training.