A nationwide study of nearly 15,000 pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests used data from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) Database (2021–2023) to examine whether race, geography, and community poverty levels influence early lifesaving care before emergency responders arrive. The study measured whether bystanders performed CPR, used an AED, and whether children regained a heartbeat prior to hospital arrival.
The researchers found notable differences in care. Black and Hispanic children were less likely than White children to receive bystander CPR, and Hispanic children were also less likely to have an AED used. Children in rural and suburban areas were more likely to receive bystander CPR than those in urban settings.
Overall, the findings highlight gaps in early lifesaving action and reinforce the importance of expanding CPR education, increasing AED access, and strengthening community preparedness so all children have an equal chance of survival in a cardiac emergency.
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SOURCE: Prehospital Emergency Care