Basic infant life support: retention of knowledge and skill.

Successful resuscitation depends upon several factors including the underlying cause for the cardiac arrest and the availability of advanced life support. Another key factor is the ability of those first on the scene to administer basic life support. Knowledge and skills in basic life support were tested in six registered children's nurses, who were randomly chosen to take part in a small exploratory study. Knowledge was tested by means of a questionnaire and skill was tested with a practical test using an infant manikin. The Resuscitation Council (RC) (1997) guidelines were used as a guide. The results demonstrated that the knowledge and skills of those assessed were unsatisfactory, so a resuscitation update was arranged. The sample group was re-tested using the same questionnaire and practical test immediately following the resuscitation update and again six weeks later. Knowledge and skills improved in five of the six participants, although the order in which they were performing aspects of basic infant life support was beginning to alter by the six-week retest.