Awareness and Motivation Toward Basic Life Support Among High School Students: A Cross-sectional Survey

Abstract Background: Basic life support (BLS) plays a crucial role in improving survival outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, in low-resource settings, secondary school students often lack access to formal BLS training. This is especially true in low- to middle-income country (LMIC) settings. This study aimed to assess the awareness and motivation toward BLS among high school students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive survey was conducted involving 874 high school students selected using stratified random sampling based on the school type and grade level. This approach ensured proportional representation of general and vocational students. Data were collected via a validated, self-administered online questionnaire distributed through school communication channels. The survey assessed BLS awareness and motivation to participate in future programs. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Only 8% of students reported familiarity with BLS, 4.7% had ever attended any form of BLS training, and 1.8% were familiar with publicly available automated external defibrillators. Despite this, motivation was high: 98.5% believed BLS should be taught in schools, and 95.3% expressed willingness to attend training. The study revealed a marked discrepancy between student readiness and institutional educational provision. Conclusion: There is a clear public health opportunity to integrate BLS training into the secondary school curriculum in LMICs. Students show strong motivation despite limited awareness and training experience. Systemic educational reform, incorporating hands-on BLS training, could improve community emergency preparedness and foster a more health-literate youth population.