Health education: an approach on first aid in public schools in inner of São Paulo

Abstract

Population´s lack of knowledge brings about many problems, such as incorrect care of victims and the sporadic unnecessary call for emergency help. The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge level of teachers and workers in elementary and middle municipal schools of São Paulo State, before and after the first-aid training. The study was carried out in four municipal public schools which offer elementary and middle teaching, in the countryside of São Paulo state, from August to October, 2006.Data were collected through a questionnaire applied before and after the teachers and workers´ training. By means of descriptive statistical analysis, it was possible to detect that, in the pre-training stage, only 27, 75% of volunteers showed good knowledge on the assistance of fainting and nosebleed cases. About convulsion, external hemorrhage and dental avulsion, most of teachers and workers (61, 43%), wouldn´t have acted correctly. After training, participants showed they would have an adequate reaction in first-aid situations. It was concluded that the training of first-aid basic principles in schools is extremely important to minimize the damage caused by incorrect victim´s care and lack of immediate help.