Title: The South LA CPR Initiative: An Innovative Community-Based Approach to Improving Cardiac Arrest Survival in Southern California

Author: Antonia Santos,MS; Tabitha Cheng, MD

Area of Concentration: Medical Education

Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Keywords: Community engagement, CPR, South LA, Compton, Gardena, OHCA, cardiac arrest

Background: Outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are significantly affected by timely emergency response measures, including bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. Although early activation of these interventions is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality, disparities persist—particularly among communities of color—with lower rates of bystander intervention and survival. Research has shown that neighborhoods in South Los Angeles - such as Gardena and Compton - have demonstrated significant OHCA mortality rates and reduced rates of bystander CPR and AED activation. 

Objectives: This project aims to reduce inequities in OHCA outcomes by increasing rates of bystander CPR and AED use in Compton and Gardena. Through community engagement and a culturally informed needs assessment, the initiative seeks to identify barriers and facilitators to intervention, develop targeted strategies, and promote sustainable community-led efforts to improve emergency response and survival outcomes.

Design: This qualitative study employed focus groups composed of self-selected participants from the Los Angeles communities of Compton and Gardena. Participants were guided through a semi-structured discussion using a standardized set of questions designed to elicit perceptions, attitudes, and barriers related to bystander CPR and AED use. This approach enabled in-depth exploration of community-specific insights and cultural considerations surrounding emergency response behaviors that can  inform tailored interventions.

Preliminary Findings: Early findings revealed several critical gaps in knowledge and pervasive concerns regarding bystander interventions. Uncertainty on when CPR should be initiated was a prevalent finding. There was also widespread unfamiliarity with AEDs regarding what they are, where to find them, and who is legally or practically permitted to use them. Additionally, participants voiced significant apprehension about intervening in emergencies due to fears of legal consequences, unintentionally harming the person in distress, or being harmed themselves. These insights highlight the need for culturally tailored education that addresses not only procedural knowledge but also emotional and legal barriers to action.