BARRIERS TO CPR
A cinematic micro-course with an epic superhero theme, and the only time I've ever used Comic Sans. Nominated for the LearnX Design Awards 2021.
THE BRIEF
We all know that CPR saves lives. But triple zero call-takers come up against barriers to providing quick and effective CPR in about 70 per cent of cardiac arrest calls. The chance of survival decreases by 10 per cent for every minute CPR is delayed, so helping callers and call-takers overcome these roadblocks is critical for patient outcomes.
My role was to create a micro-course to help new call-takers recognise the different barriers they may encounter when talking bystanders through CPR, and provide some practical strategies to overcome them.
THE PREP
Every good plan starts with good information, and this project was no exception. First, I read some articles from the College of Emergency Dispatch - the peak international body for ambulance call-taking and dispatch - to get an overview of the issues. I then worked with ambulance call-taking SMEs and workplace trainers to find out more about their lived experience - what types of barriers they commonly ran into, and the most effective ways to get around them (including where to get help if required).
Triple zero call-takers and trainers have had plenty of practice with talking callers through CPR over the phone, but most have never had to perform CPR themselves, so I also spoke to some paramedics to find out what it's like the get hands-on with CPR and what physical barriers might present a problem when a member of the public calls for help.
THE DESIGN
With the prep work done, it was time to put together a logical plan for presenting the information. As always, I started with an introduction covering the topic in general terms and introducing some pertinent facts and figures, so the learners would understand why the learning was relevant to their role before getting into the nitty-gritty.
An analysis of the information I'd gathered revealed that barriers to CPR could be grouped into three main categories - physical, emotional and communication - so I arranged the body of the micro-course around these three categories, with an overview, some real-life examples, and practical solutions for each one.
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This was followed by a short, interactive knowledge check activity to emphasise key points and confirm understanding, and I rounded off the course with a section outlining the support systems in place to help call-takers deal with difficult CPR scenarios in real time.
THE FUN PART
Triple zero ambulance call-takers all have one thing in common: they want to help people. For all the emergency situations they encounter, they feel that guiding a caller through CPR can really make a difference in someone's life more than any other aspect of their role.
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This inspired me to create a story with a superhero theme, so I designed the entire course as an animated film with interactive elements and an epic Hollywood soundtrack. Part comic book, part action flick, the course tells the story of our hero call-taker facing off against countless barriers to help those in need. After writing and recording the script, I built the content using Vyond animation and Articulate Storyline.
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In keeping with the cinematic theme, I used interactive video for the knowledge check as well. I sourced real-life footage of bystanders trying to help a patient in cardiac arrest, but facing multiple barriers to CPR. Our hero call-taker appears at key parts of the video to ask the learners what practical steps the bystanders should take to overcome the problems.
This design has a dual purpose - it confirms understanding and emphasises important knowledge, but it also helps call-takers to picture the scene from the caller's perspective, providing valuable insights into the difficulties members of the public may face when calling for help.
SEE IT
In accordance with intellectual property and confidentiality policies, I am unable to share video from the Barriers to CPR course online. A selection of still images is available below.
