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Teaching Life-Saving Manoeuvres in Primary School.
Sara Calicchia1, Giovanna Cangiano1, Silvia Capanna1
1INAIL, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy.
Biomed Research International
|December 14, 2016
Summary
Primary school students can learn life-saving skills. A study showed 11-12 year olds effectively learned Basic Life Support and Defibrillation (BLSD) maneuvers, including using an AED, with positive skill test results.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Education
- Public Health
Background:
- Early intervention by laypersons is crucial for survival during sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
- Teaching first aid in primary school may foster lifelong emergency response skills and motivation in young people.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document a Basic Life Support and Defibrillation (BLSD) training initiative for Italian primary school pupils.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of BLSD training in this age group, including remote assessment.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 130 pupils (aged 11-12) participated, divided into a trained BLSD group (62) and a control group (68).
- Effectiveness was assessed via a multiple-choice questionnaire and a practical emergency simulation for the trained group.
- Statistical analysis included a t-test to compare questionnaire scores between groups.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in questionnaire scores were observed between the trained and control groups.
- The trained group demonstrated positive performance in practical skill assessments, including critical actions like airway management, breathing assessment, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use.
Conclusions:
- Primary school pupils can be effectively taught life-saving BLSD maneuvers.
- While long-term skill retention requires further investigation, the study supports the feasibility of early-age emergency response training.
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