Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training in Developing Regions

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In Third World countries there are many priorities that take precedence over cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Some more common concerns are malnutrition, infectious diseases (malaria, tuberculosis, measles and polio) and children's diseases such as diarrhea and dehydration. Other priorities such as sanitation, housing, primary and professional education, jobs and birth control, inflation (118% for Brazil in 1980), energy crises and balance of payments are important government priorities. Accident prevention in civil construction and traffic education should be of paramount importance in a country that holds world records of accidents in both sectors. After we consider the above priorities, first aid education and CPR are to be taken into account. This does not mean that CPR training is not to be undertaken until all of the other priorities are satisfied, but it does mean that the availability of funds and motivation will be relegated to a lower priority in countries that are developing and have similar problems.