"Background: Children are vulnerable to injuries, but at times they may face severe accidents, first aid becomes as important as taking a child to a medical facility. As children spend most of their time in schools, school teachers need to be equipped with knowledge on first aid.
Objectives: To assess the sociodemographic characteristics of school teachers, to assess the perception and practices regarding first aid and to assess the factors influencing perception and practices among school teachers.
Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted for 9 months in 40 randomly selected schools of Mysore. Teachers working in these schools, who had minimum 1 year experience, were included. The details regarding perception and practices, events requiring first aid were obtained by using self administered, pre-tested questionnaire.
Results: 150 (57.3%) were from urban and 112 (42.7%) were from rural areas. Majority 130 (49.6%) were more than 40 years old. Out of 262 school teachers, 255 (97.3%) had ever heard of a terminology first aid. Among those who had heard of first aid 201 (78.8%) had replied that first aid has to be given in case of wounds whereas only 77 (30.2%) were aware that even fainting needs first aid care. Overall perception and practice regarding first aid among school teachers was found to be poor. Wound was found to be the commonest event requiring the first aid care in the school.
Conclusion: The perception and practices of school teachers on first aid was found to be poor. Wound was found to be the commonest event requiring first aid followed by fainting attack."
Key words: School teachers, first aid, wound
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