Iranian teachers' knowledge about first aid in the school environment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Pediatric Safety

Background:

• School students face risks of unintentional injuries.
• Teachers serve as primary caregivers and first responders for students.
• Effective first aid knowledge among teachers is crucial for immediate care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the first aid knowledge of school teachers in Kashan, Iran.
• To identify gaps in teachers' understanding of basic first aid practices.
• To inform the development of targeted training programs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 200 teachers from Kashan schools.
• Data collected via a questionnaire assessing teacher demographics and first aid knowledge.
• Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and regression tests.

Main Results:

• The average first aid knowledge score was 10.00 ± 2.58 out of 20.
• Only 40.3% of teachers had completed first aid courses; 48.5% had prior first aid experience.
• Significant knowledge gaps were observed, particularly in managing fractures (93.4% incorrect) and electrical injuries (85.2% incorrect).

Conclusions:

• A majority of teachers demonstrated inadequate first aid knowledge.
• Lack of formal first aid training was prevalent among surveyed teachers.
• In-service training programs are urgently needed to improve teachers' first aid competencies.