CPR Heroes

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major global public health concern, accounting to about a third of the death globally, with survival rates remaining below 10%. However, bystander CPR rates remain low globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries due to limited awareness among general public stemming from lack of large scale hands-on community education, cost of training equipment, fear of causing harm to the victim and cultural hesitations. Together, these barriers leave members of the public unprepared to take timely and appropriate action during a cardiac emergency.

In this research we developed a DIY self-directed interactive CPR dummy kit to learn and practice CPR from everyday household materials such as cardboard, dish sponges, aluminium foil, and a smartphone that we all carry today. The DIY physical dummy is integrated with the smartphone’s touch-sensitive screen using aluminium foil and an interactive web app that can be accessed by simply scanning a QR code. Together, they transform the smartphone into an interactive interface that detects CPR compressions and provides immediate audio and visual feedback, guiding learners on their compression rhythm , depth and how they can improve through an experiential learning approach.

Researchers
Anagha Ramesh
Ye Qian
Eian Siew
Clement Zheng

Photo Credits
Vina Setiawaty

Topic Experts
Dr Alexander Ng Jet Yue (NUH, Emergency Medicine)
Chong Zi En (NUS AM, Research Engineer)

Awards
SCDF-DELL Lifesavers Innovation Challenge, 2025
3rd Place

All the materials you need to make your own CPR dummy in less than $3

Learning experience with CPR Hero

Learners assemble their own dummy using printable A4 templates, building empathy by designing characters they relate to and care for.

Access the interactive web app by simply scanning the QR code

Learn the CPR protocol through assessing randomly simulated emergency scenarios and practice chest compressions

Track your compression performance progress

CPR skills you can practice with CPR Heroes

Hand placement

Learn to identify the right placement of hands on the chest.

Chest compression depth

Practice CPR compressions using locally available sponges with a minimum thickness of 4 cm to simulate the required compression depth.

Chest compression rhythm

Each sufficiently deep compression registers as a touch through the aluminium point on the smartphone’s capacitive touchscreen. The web app tracks the touches and provides real-time visual feedback on compression rhythm through a BPM meter.

Why CPR Heroes?

1- CPR requires embodied practice

CPR is a complex psychomotor skill that requires both knowledge and physical practice.For one to develop the confidence and coordination to perform CPR requires hands-on practice and feedback based training.

2- CPR skills require regular reinforcement

CPR skills can begin to decline significantly within 3–6 months after initial training, highlighting the need for regular refresher practice. Research suggests that short, frequent practice sessions of 5–10 minutes each month can support skill retention more effectively than relying solely on one-time annual training sessions.

3- Limited access to hands on CPR training beyond formal learning contexts

Existing tools for hands-on CPR training are often expensive,lack personal connection and provide limited interactive feedback.