Resuscitation training for medical students.

Abstract

This paper describes the systematic training of undergraduate medical students in resuscitation skills, aimed at overcoming the well known deficiencies in the resuscitation skills of junior doctors. This training can be integrated with the medical curriculum, but takes a considerable commitment in teaching time. To give each of our 240 medical students 36 h of resuscitation training, including an advanced life support (ALS) course for all students, 2442 h of teacher's time is required each year. It is important that teaching is continued on the wards as part of the training of pre-registration house officers. The amount of teaching time required justifies the appointment of Medical School Resuscitation Officers, dedicated to teaching medical students, dental students and pre-registration house officers.