Competence and confidence of secondary school teachers in managing first aid situations

Abstract

First Aid is the provision of immediate help, assistance or treatment of an injured or ill individual (First Aid Manual, 2006). The aim of this study was to explore teacher’s competence and confidence in administering First Aid when a student required First Aid during their lesson. The study focuses on four subjects, namely Chemistry, Biology, Physical Education and Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies; subjects perceived by the researcher as most susceptible for injuries to happen. A triangular study approach was adopted by gathering information from three main sources. An extensive literature search, face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were conducted for this purpose. From the findings, several issues emerged. Lately, the numbers of teachers trained in First Aid and teaching in local schools have increased since the study by Muscat (1996). The University of Malta offers a First Aid course to prospective teachers depending on their subject area. Teacher’s competence and confidence depends majorly on their First Aid training and skills mastered during training and experience in dealing with First Aid situations. On the other hand, discontinued First Aid training leads to poor confidence and competence as skills are forgotten due to lack of revision and lack of opportunities to practice skills. Varied feelings were conveyed by teachers who were aware of their responsibility for all the students in their classes and their abilities in administering First Aid. A number of recommendations for practice were put forward by the researcher including the need for a compulsory First Aid credit in the B.Ed (Hons) degree for all student teachers irrelevant of the subject, inclusion of First Aid awareness in student’s curricula and an effort from the schools’ administrative personnel to promote the importance of First Aid for all staff.