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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Sep 19;4(9):e005848.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005848.

Are schoolteachers able to teach first aid to children younger than 6 years? A comparative study

Christine Ammirati  1 , Rémi Gagnayre  2 , Carole Amsallem  3 , Bernard Némitz  4 , Maxime Gignon  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Are schoolteachers able to teach first aid to children younger than 6 years? A comparative study

Christine Ammirati et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the knowledge acquired by very young children (<6 years) trained by their own teachers at nursery school. This comparative study assessed the effect of training before the age of 6 years compared with a group of age-matched untrained children.

Setting: Some schoolteachers were trained by emergency medical teams to perform basic first aid.

Participants: Eighteen classes comprising 315 pupils were randomly selected: nine classes of trained pupils (cohort C1) and nine classes of untrained pupils (cohort C2).

Primary and secondary outcome measures: The test involved observing and describing three pictures and using the phone to call the medical emergency centre. Assessment of each child was based on nine criteria, and was performed by the teacher 2 months after completion of first aid training.

Results: This study concerned 285 pupils: 140 trained and 145 untrained. The majority of trained pupils gave the expected answers for all criteria and reacted appropriately by assessing the situation and alerting emergency services (55.7-89.3% according to the questions). Comparison of the two groups revealed a significantly greater ability of trained pupils to describe an emergency situation (p<0.005) and raise the alert (p<0.0001).

Conclusions: This study shows the ability of very young children to assimilate basic skills as taught by their own schoolteachers.

Keywords: EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training); PRIMARY CARE; PUBLIC HEALTH.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A boy who has fallen off a stepladder and is holding his leg.
Figure 3
Figure 3
A young girl crying because she has broken her doll.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A young boy who has injured his hand while peeling an apple.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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