CHECK-CALL-COMPRESS is the recommended algorithm by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation to teach school age children. Several studies show that school aged children are highly motivated to learn and perform CPR. They also serve as CPR multipliers meaning they go home, talk about what they have learned and inspire others to learn.
By age 4, children are able to assess the first step in the chain of survival - CHECK - assessing for responsiveness and breathing. By age 6, children can dial the emergency number and give the correct information for the location of the call. By age 10-12 children are able to get correct chest compression depths and ventilation volumes in CPR manikins. Hands-on training is more beneficial compared to verbal only instruction.
Areas where CPR is taught to school age children as a part of the school curriculum have higher rates of bystander CPR.
Bottom line: CPR should be introduced to elementary school children.
References
Schroeder DC, Semeraro F, Greif R, et al. KIDS SAVE LIVES: Basic Life Support Education for Schoolchildren: A Narrative Review and Scientific Statement From the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation [published correction appears in Circulation. 2023 Jul 4;148(1):e1. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001166]. Circulation. 2023;147(24):1854-1868. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001128.
