Management of in-hospital cardiac arrest is now considered as a hospital quality indicator. Such management actually requires training health care workers (HCWs) for basic life support (BLS). To assess the usefulness and efficacy of a short mandatory BLS training course amongst general ward HCWs in a 1,200 bed teaching hospital. The in-hospital medical emergency team (MET) established a 45-min BLS training course comprising 10 goals for basic CPR and preparing for the arrival of the MET. Assessment was based on satisfaction questionnaires, cross-sectional evaluation of knowledge and skills of HCWs before and 1 year after the start of the training course. Efficacy of BLS performed on ward was assessed by the MET on scene. One year after, 68 training sessions had been fulfilled and 522 HCWs had been trained (46.27% of total HCWs). HCWs were satisfied with the teaching course. Instant retention of objectives was over 90%. Cross-sectional surveys showed an improvement of BLS knowledge and skills. The knowledge of initial clinical assessment remained low. Knowledge and skills were significantly higher amongst HCWs who had been trained than amongst those who had not. Unfortunately, general ward BLS performance showed no improvement. Short mandatory training courses are stimulating and well appreciated amongst HCWs. Although basic knowledge and skills improve dramatically, no improvement of on-scene BLS performance occurs.