Location
Moultrie, GA
Start Date
17-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
17-4-2026 1:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION
Cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac arrest, is the leading cause of death in Georgia, responsible for more than 28,000 deaths annually, nearly one-third of statewide mortality. Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is strongly associated with rapid bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which can more than double survival. However, populations most at risk, including Hispanic and rural communities, are among the least likely to receive bystander-initiated CPR and experience poorer survival. Data from national and Georgia reports show that most Southeastern farmworkers are Hispanic (67%), predominantly foreign-born, low-income, uninsured, and primarily Spanish-speaking. At the Ellenton Farmworker Clinic in Colquitt County, 64% of migrant farmworkers are overweight or obese, and 67% have elevated blood pressure, reflecting a high cardiovascular risk burden among patients seen in Georgia’s migrant clinics. All patients seen at these clinics between 2018 and 2021 were uninsured, and over 85% preferred to be served in a language other than English.
Many migrant farmworkers face significant barriers, including a lack of insurance, transportation, social support, and Spanish-language CPR education, hesitation to recognize cardiac arrest symptoms, and reluctance to activate emergency services due to language and trust concerns. Despite the availability of Spanish-language CPR programs at the national level, counties with higher concentrations of Hispanic residents are significantly more likely to fall into the lowest third of CPR training rates. Further, studies indicate that when Spanish-language CPR training materials are available online, they are often incomplete or insufficient for effective instruction.
This project addresses these gaps by providing culturally tailored, Spanish-language CPR and first aid training delivered by members of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). The primary research question is whether this intervention improves migrant farmworkers’ knowledge, confidence, and preparedness to respond to medical emergencies in rural Georgia.
METHODS
Thirteen bilingual osteopathic medical students from the LMSA were trained to deliver hands-only CPR, use automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and provide first aid education using the American Heart Association's CPR in Schools Kit. Training included culturally tailored modules addressing agricultural emergencies such as heat illness and bleeding control. Two 2-hour sessions were conducted in Spanish at Southern Valley Produce with 40 migrant farmworker participants. Participants practiced CPR and AED skills hands-on using the kits while receiving instruction in Spanish alongside standardized video modules. A mixed-methods design incorporated pre- and post-surveys assessing knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction.
RESULTS
Participant knowledge increased significantly from an average of 50% pre-training to 91% post-training (41% mean improvement; p < 0.001). Participants reported enhanced confidence in responding to emergencies and rated the training as highly relevant and accessible. Qualitative feedback emphasized the value of Spanish-language delivery and student facilitators.
DISCUSSION
This initiative showcases a sustainable, low-cost model that enhances emergency preparedness among rural agricultural workers while fostering community engagement. Student-led, culturally tailored instruction improves health literacy and confidence among vulnerable populations. Future directions include expanding the program through train-the-trainer models to build sustainable, community-driven emergency preparedness in underserved rural populations.
Embargo Period
5-28-2026
Included in
Culturally Tailored Hands-Only CPR Training for Hispanic Migrant Farmworkers in Rural Georgia: A Student-Led Community Intervention
Moultrie, GA
INTRODUCTION
Cardiovascular disease, including sudden cardiac arrest, is the leading cause of death in Georgia, responsible for more than 28,000 deaths annually, nearly one-third of statewide mortality. Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is strongly associated with rapid bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which can more than double survival. However, populations most at risk, including Hispanic and rural communities, are among the least likely to receive bystander-initiated CPR and experience poorer survival. Data from national and Georgia reports show that most Southeastern farmworkers are Hispanic (67%), predominantly foreign-born, low-income, uninsured, and primarily Spanish-speaking. At the Ellenton Farmworker Clinic in Colquitt County, 64% of migrant farmworkers are overweight or obese, and 67% have elevated blood pressure, reflecting a high cardiovascular risk burden among patients seen in Georgia’s migrant clinics. All patients seen at these clinics between 2018 and 2021 were uninsured, and over 85% preferred to be served in a language other than English.
Many migrant farmworkers face significant barriers, including a lack of insurance, transportation, social support, and Spanish-language CPR education, hesitation to recognize cardiac arrest symptoms, and reluctance to activate emergency services due to language and trust concerns. Despite the availability of Spanish-language CPR programs at the national level, counties with higher concentrations of Hispanic residents are significantly more likely to fall into the lowest third of CPR training rates. Further, studies indicate that when Spanish-language CPR training materials are available online, they are often incomplete or insufficient for effective instruction.
This project addresses these gaps by providing culturally tailored, Spanish-language CPR and first aid training delivered by members of the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). The primary research question is whether this intervention improves migrant farmworkers’ knowledge, confidence, and preparedness to respond to medical emergencies in rural Georgia.
METHODS
Thirteen bilingual osteopathic medical students from the LMSA were trained to deliver hands-only CPR, use automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and provide first aid education using the American Heart Association's CPR in Schools Kit. Training included culturally tailored modules addressing agricultural emergencies such as heat illness and bleeding control. Two 2-hour sessions were conducted in Spanish at Southern Valley Produce with 40 migrant farmworker participants. Participants practiced CPR and AED skills hands-on using the kits while receiving instruction in Spanish alongside standardized video modules. A mixed-methods design incorporated pre- and post-surveys assessing knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction.
RESULTS
Participant knowledge increased significantly from an average of 50% pre-training to 91% post-training (41% mean improvement; p < 0.001). Participants reported enhanced confidence in responding to emergencies and rated the training as highly relevant and accessible. Qualitative feedback emphasized the value of Spanish-language delivery and student facilitators.
DISCUSSION
This initiative showcases a sustainable, low-cost model that enhances emergency preparedness among rural agricultural workers while fostering community engagement. Student-led, culturally tailored instruction improves health literacy and confidence among vulnerable populations. Future directions include expanding the program through train-the-trainer models to build sustainable, community-driven emergency preparedness in underserved rural populations.