1. 7th Scientific Congress of the European Resuscitation Council – Budapest, Hungary, September 2004

2. 1 Pederzini F, 2 Rugolotto S, 3 Wermter B, 1 Cologna M, 1 Malossi R, 4 Miribung A, 1 Monfredini E, 5 Senoner V 1 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento (I); 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Policlinico Hospital, Verona (I); 3 Department of Pediatrics, Hannover (D), 4 Weißes Kreuz, Bolzano (I); 5 Department of Pediatrics, Innsbruck (A). PAEDIATRIC BASIC LIFE SUPPORT COURSES IN A BILINGUAL AREA Alpines Ausbildungszentrum Für Pädiatrische Notfallmedizin Alpine Pediatric Life Support Training Center http://www.provinz.bz.it/se/paednotmed/

3. http://www.europaregion.info/

5. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of PBLS courses for healthcare providers in a bilingual area. Materials and Methods 118 “8-hr” PBLS courses given between 1998 and 2003 in the Trentino-Southtirol-Tirol Euroregion. Courses followed IRC and SIMEUP guidelines. Educational materials written in Italian and German PBLS Instructors trained according to IRC guidelines (a dedicated residential two-days Instructor course + a minimum of 3 courses taught under supervision) Bilingual written pre-tests, post-tests, Italian CME forms and written surveys about the quality of the courses.

6. Results - 1 A total of 54 instructors were tutored by 8 senior instructor trainers during the 6-years study period. 20 instructors were bilingual. A total of 1927 healthcare providers (450 nurses and 300 physicians) were trained in PBLS. 43% of PBLS courses were taught in German. 98% of the providers acquired PBLS skills. All the providers and instructors of both languages considered the content and practical training adequate, while the instructor skills programme was perceived crowded by some.

7. Results - 2 1927118Total 514312003 668472002 330202001 17492000 223101999 1811998 ProvidersCoursesYear PBLS courses for healthcare providers 906Total 912003 3622002 912001 1412000 2211999 1998 InstructorsCoursesYear PBLS courses for instructors

8. Results - 3 170496Total 960402003 217202002 195172001 13292000 14591999 3121998 ProvidersCoursesYear PBLS courses for lay people

9. Results - 3 72057Total 217202002 195172001 13292000 14591999 3121998 ProvidersCoursesYear PBLS courses for lay people 285Total 1422002 212001 1222000 1999 1998 ProvidersCoursesYear Retraining PBLS courses

10. Euregio PBLS centers, instructors and courses during the study period Trento Referral Center 7 PBLS Instructor Courses* * Updated to 6/2004

11. Evaluation of teaching quality in Euregio pediatric emergency training Written and practical skill tests CME course evaluation forms Sponsor/patron course evaluation forms Changes in working skills. Survival rate of out-of-hospital pediatric arrests handled by PBLS certified rescuers.

12. Future partnership proposals: INTERREG IIIC project - 1 To build a network in PLS training based on 2001 ERC International Guidelines, according to homogenous teaching models and instructors. To exchange experiences and good practices in emergency education of the first responders To establish consistent evaluations and revisions of the teaching quality To obtain data on PLS and pediatric emergencies in a large population, through identical methods of collection. To create an observational survey of the effectiveness of the first aid in a large pediatric population Core objectives

13. Future partnership proposals: INTERREG IIIC project - 2 Trentino (leader) Potential project partners: –Südtirol (I) –Tirol (A) –Galicia (E) –Catalunya (E) –Canton Ticino (CH) –Baden-Württemberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland (D) Expected Benefits To create a technical and institutional model of cooperation among the project partners for the evaluation and revision of the training quality in pediatric emergencies.

14. Conclusions Bilingual courses turned out to be a useful and homogeneous educational method for health care providers. Teaching and hands-on sessions were suitable for a bilingual, multiethnic region. Courses for directors and supervisors, and AED hands-on session are needed. INTERREG IIIC project could provide valuable shared experience and data on pediatric life support training and pediatric emergencies.

15. Acknowledgments Autonome Provinz Bozen-Südtirol - Assessorat für Gesundheit- und Sozialwesen - Bozen Istituto Regionale di Studi e Ricerca Sociale (IRSRS) - Trento Landesrettungsverein Weißes Kreuz - Bozen Innsbruck

16. The Jane Bridger instructor day for ERC instructors and instructors candidates – Budapest, September 12 th 2004 First ERC ALS instructor and instructor candidate meeting