Effectiveness of First Aid Training on Knowledge Among Students in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala: A Pre-Post Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5530/ajphs.2026.16.92Keywords:
First aid, Knowledge, Post-test, TrainingAbstract
Background: Sudden illness, injury, or animal bites can often be serious unless proper care is administered promptly. First aid is immediate attention to one suffering from illness or injury. Everyone should be able to give effective assistance so that an injured person can receive professional medical care. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of first aid knowledge among students regarding common health emergencies and their corresponding first aid measures, through training sessions on first aid delivered via lectures. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 500 students were selected from 5 different streams. Data were collected using a seven-part questionnaire, with the first part including demographic information and general questions, and the remaining six parts covering knowledge on common injuries such as electric shock, burns, snake bites, heart attacks, choking, and fractures. Pre-test and post-test assessments of knowledge scores were carried out immediately after a training session on first aid for all students. Results: The findings revealed that the majority of the students possessed good knowledge of first aid for snake bites and burns compared to other injuries. Training on first aid significantly improved knowledge about all health emergencies among all students, as evident from post-test scores. Training sessions have brought about significant improvement in the knowledge of all participants. Conclusion: First aid training significantly improved students’ knowledge of managing common health emergencies, highlighting the importance of incorporating regular first aid education programs to enhance emergency preparedness and response skills among students.
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