Background: There is a potential relationship between the self-confidence and the willingness of bystanders to undertake resuscitation (CPR) and its training. The current guidelines increasingly focus on both the importance of the human factor and the fact that training programs should increase the willingness of bystanders to undertake resuscitation, which may have a direct impact on improving survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Aim: The objective of the study was to analyze factors influencing the assessment of own skills crucial in basic life support (BLS) and the willingness to provide CPR to individual victims. Methods: A pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The data was collected from 4 December 2019 to 3 October 2020 in workplaces, during instructor-led BLS courses. Each intervention (training) consisted of a theoretical and a practical part. The program was focused both on the skills and the human factor. Results: Comparison of pre-test and post-test data concerning self-confidence scores of the ability to recognize OHCA among 967 participants demonstrated a significant difference (respectively, Me = 2.2, IQR [2–3] vs. Me = 3.4, IQR [3–4]; p = 0.000). Additionally, self-assessment scores for the ability to perform proper chest compressions between pre-test and post-test also differed significantly (respectively Me = 2.3, IQR [2–3] vs. Me = 3.3, IQR [3–4]; p = 0.000). A highly significant difference was found in the likelihood of changing the decision in favor of the willingness to undertake CPR for all types of victims, with the greatest difference found in relation to the willingness to conduct resuscitation on strangers (OR = 7.67, 95% CI 5.01–11.73; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Completing hands-on training has a highly significant, beneficial effect on the readiness to undertake resuscitation for all types of victims, strangers in particular. Training programs should place particular emphasis on developing readiness to undertake resuscitation for both those who have never been trained and those who had their last training more than one year ago.

Potential attributes of virtual reality (VR) can be a breakthrough in the improvement of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) training. However, interference with the virtual world is associated with the need of placing additional equipment on the trainee's body. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate if it does not affect the quality of chest compressions (CCs). 91 voluntarily included in the study medical students participated twice in the scenario of SCA – Traditional Scenario (TS) and Virtual Reality Scenario (VRS). In both cases two minutes of resuscitation was performed. If VRS was the first scenario there were significant differences in CCs depth (VRS - Me = 47 mm [IQR 43 – 52] vs TS - Me = 48 mm [IQR 43 – 55]; P = .02) and chest relaxation (VRS - Me = 37% [IQR 5 – 91] vs TS - Me = 97% [IQR 87 – 100]; P < .001). 97.8% of respondents believe that training with the use of VR is more effective than a traditional method (P < .01). Most of the study group (91%, P < .01) denied any negative symptoms during the VR scenario. Virtual reality can be a safe and highly valued by medical students, method of hands-on CPR training. However additional VR equipment placed on the trainee's body may cause chest compressions harder to provide. If it is not preceded by traditional training, the use of VR may have an adverse impact on depth and full chest relaxation during the training. To make the best use of all the potential that virtual reality offers, future studies should focus on finding the most effective way to combine VR with traditional skill training in CPR courses curriculum.

The management of foreign body airway obstruction has evolved over time from back blows and chest thrusts to abdominal thrusts. However, current guidelines worldwide are based on outdated data, with unclear evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of these rescue manoeuvres. Concerns persist about the potential of these techniques to cause injury, especially in children; therefore, a critical revision to ensure optimal child safety is necessary. The literature on first aid for paediatric choking was identified through the searching of various databases. Studies were evaluated for their relevance, quality, and currency. The analysis examined guideline consistency with current evidenced-based medicine and identified research gaps. The analysis of the available data was supplemented by adult-based evidence due to the scarcity of paediatric-specific research. First aid guidelines and recommendations for paediatric choking are divergent and generally grounded in low-quality evidence derived primarily from case studies. Studies since 2015 have shown highly diverse methodologies and often lack details on the execution of individual techniques, body positioning or the specific characteristics of study groups, which are crucial when comparing the effectiveness and safety of rescue manoeuvres. Updating evidence-based scientific knowledge for future recommendations is crucial.

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a significant cause of adult mortality, categorized into in-hospital (IHCA) and out-of-hospital (OHCA). Survival in OHCA depends on early diagnosis, alerting Emergency Medical Service (EMS), high-quality bystander resuscitation, and prompt Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) use. Accelerating technological progress supports faster AED retrieval and use, but there are barriers in real-life OHCA situations. The study assesses 6th-year medical students' ability to locate AEDs using smartphones, revealing challenges and proposing solutions. The study was conducted in 2022-2023 at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Respondents completed a survey on AED knowledge and characteristics, followed by a task to find the nearest AED using their own smartphones. As common sources did not list the University AEDs, respondents were instructed to locate the nearest AED outside the research site. A total of 300 6th-year medical students took part in the study. Only 3.3% had an AED locating app. Only 32% of students claimed to know where the AED nearest to their home is. All 300 had received AED training, and almost half had been witness to a resuscitation. Out of the 291 medical students who completed the AED location task, the median time to locate the nearest AED was 58 s. Most participants (86.6%) found the AED within 100 s, and over half (53%) did so in under 1 min. National registration of AEDs should be mandatory. A unified source of all AEDs mapped should be created or added to existing ones. With a median of under one minute, searching for AED by a bystander should be considered as a point in the chain of survival.

Background: Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently discussed as a predictorof death in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but the cut-off point of MPV inrelation to poor prognosis has not been estimated so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPV and its prognostic value in ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). Such an analysisin patients with the most serious and fatal complication of ACS has not been performed inpreviously published research. Methods: Fifty three patients with ACS complicated by CS (age 68.9 ± 11.4, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 55% fatal CS) and 53 age- and gender-matched patients with uncomplicated ACS as a control group (age 69.1 ± 10.6, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 0% fatal) were includedin our prospective study from 2010 to 2012. All the patients underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention. MPV was determined on admission (MPV1) and in consecutive two days of hospitalization (MPV2, MPV3). The blood sample was analyzed immediately after collection in EDTA tubes using an automatic blood counter. Results: MPV1 was similar in both groups (8.91 ± 1.11 fl vs. 8.57 ± 0.74 fl, NS). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in MPV value in fatal and nonfatal CS(8.90 ± 1.18 fl vs. 8.93 ± 1.05 fl, NS). Conclusions: The above results suggest that MPV cannot be considered a predictor of poorin-hospital outcome in patients with ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock. Background: Elevated mean platelet volume (MPV) has been recently discussed as a predictorof death in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but the cut-off point of MPV inrelation to poor prognosis has not been estimated so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate MPV and its prognostic value in ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). Such an analysisin patients with the most serious and fatal complication of ACS has not been performed inpreviously published research. Methods: Fifty three patients with ACS complicated by CS (age 68.9 ± 11.4, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 55% fatal CS) and 53 age- and gender-matched patients with uncomplicated ACS as a control group (age 69.1 ± 10.6, 49% women, 92% STEMI, 0% fatal) were includedin our prospective study from 2010 to 2012. All the patients underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention. MPV was determined on admission (MPV1) and in consecutive two days of hospitalization (MPV2, MPV3). The blood sample was analyzed immediately after collection in EDTA tubes using an automatic blood counter. Results: MPV1 was similar in both groups (8.91 ± 1.11 fl vs. 8.57 ± 0.74 fl, NS). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in MPV value in fatal and nonfatal CS(8.90 ± 1.18 fl vs. 8.93 ± 1.05 fl, NS). Conclusions: The above results suggest that MPV cannot be considered a predictor of poorin-hospital outcome in patients with ACS complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Most of the studies in the field of willingness and barriers to resuscitation (CPR) were conducted before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the number and types of barriers to CPR among medical students after the pandemic ended. This study was based on a survey. The data was collected from 12 April 2022 to 25 May 2022. A total of 509 complete questionnaires were obtained. The number of barriers depending on the time elapsed from the last CPR course did not differ significantly (Me = 4 [IQR 2–6] vs. Me = 5 [IQR 3–7]; p = 0.054, respectively). The number of all barriers reported by respondents differed significantly and was higher in those reporting fear of coronavirus (Me = 4 [IQR 2–6] vs. Me = 7 [IQR 4–9]; p < 0.001, respectively). A total of 12 out of all 23 barriers were significantly more frequent in this group of respondents. Barriers to CPR are still common among medical students, even despite a high rate of CPR training. The pandemic significantly affected both the number and frequency of barriers. The group of strangers and children, as potential cardiac arrest victims, deserve special attention. Efforts should be made to minimize the potentially modifiable barriers.