First Aid in Educational Facilities Essay

Introduction

First aid is a significant issue in educational facilities that should be addressed and considered. Often, many students encounter situations in which they may require first aid. This paper describes the selected topic and presents its key definitions. It explains the current state of the issue and highlights the significance of the problem. The report also features a research question and a research problem. To support the presented claims, a literature review is provided as well. Finally, the paper presents a concept map related to first aid in schools.

Research Topic

The topic presented in this paper is first aid in schools. Hirca (2018) reports that, unfortunately, many students receive significant injuries in educational facilities. Some of them occur during experimental activities, such as science, athletics, and outdoor classes (Wendy et al., 2018; Schneider, Meeteer, Nolan, & Campbell, 2017). It is vital to note that experiments and the implementation of innovative approaches to learning are vital for positive student outcomes, which means that injuries should not prevent teachers from using active learning techniques (Hirca, 2018). However, it is crucial to provide students with first aid; educators should have enough knowledge and skills to perform necessary urgent interventions. Sharma (2017) reports that first aid is the application of emergency treatment to an injured individual that does not involve complex medical equipment. Pellegrino et al. (2017) add that first aid should be grounded clinically and supported technically but, in reality, can often be considered a natural human response to an emergency. School staff should be able to address students’ injuries timely and have the necessary capacities to implement appropriate first aid measures.

Unfortunately, evidence reveals that many teachers, administrators, students, and parents cannot support students in case of an emergency. Various studies by Hirca (2018), De Buck et al. (2015), Pandey et al. (2017), Baginska, Rodakowska, Milewski,, Wilczynska-Borawska, and Kierklo (2016), and Keleş, Yildirim, and Aydin (2015) show that educators may be not competent to provide first aid. Thus, it is evident that several interventions are needed to eliminate the possibility for poor health outcomes among students due to inappropriate or untimely first aid measures. They should address ineffective school policies related to the issue.

Research Question

The research question that can be outlined is: Is there a relationship between schools’ first aid policies and the welfare of learners and educators? An independent variable is schools’ first aid policies; a dependent one is the well-being of students and teachers. The type of research hypothesis is a complex one as it reflects the link between two variables, including school policies and individuals’ health states. The first sub-question is: Does the implementation of teachers’ certification affect their ability to provide first aid and manage incidents and crises that can affect individuals’ health? The second sub-question is: Does the implementation of well-developed guidelines for teachers affect their ability to manage emergencies?

Alternative hypotheses are 1. Schools’ first aid policies can lead to positive health outcomes among learners and educators. This hypothesis is directional because it is possible to suggest that school policies have a direct impact on students and staff’s safety, as well as teachers’ ability to respond to emergencies. 2. Teachers provide first aid based on their knowledge and not schools’ first aid policies; this hypothesis is also directional. 3. Students are responsible for their safety; their wellbeing is dependent on their own knowledge and skills and not schools’ environments. This hypothesis is non-directional because it involves unpredictable concepts, such as learners’ skills. The null hypothesis is that school policies are not related to the first aid strategies educators select.

Research Problem

To provide students and educators with a safe learning and working environment, it is vital to change existing approaches to schools’ policies related to first aid. More specifically, it is necessary to implement more appropriate strategies for teachers’ first-aid certification. Guidelines that provide information about managing emergencies are vital as they allow for eliminating adverse health outcomes among affected individuals (Vale, Smith, Said, Mullins, & Loh, 2015). Students should also have knowledge about possible first aid strategies (De Villiers & Louw, 2015; Wilks & Pendergast, 2017). However, school policies that ensure that teachers have the necessary capacities and skills to provide support for injured individuals are of the most significance.

The purpose of this study is to examine whether there is a relationship between schools’ first aid policies and students’ health outcomes in case of emergencies. This topic is significant because, as mentioned above, many children become injured in the educational environment; it is vital to eliminate this problem. This study will contribute to enhancing the safety of the learning environment for students because it will show how schools can manage minor and major incidents effectively. The main concepts associated with the topic are schools’ policies related to first aid, teachers’ certification, first aid guidelines, students’ well-being, and the safety of the learning environment.

Literature Review

Various studies in the field suggest that school policies related to first aid and teachers’ certification can enhance learners’ safety significantly. It is evident that schools should be able to manage both insignificant incidents and major crises that can affect learners’ health (Mutch, 2015). Besides the works featured above, there are several researchers that advocate for the benefits of well-developed first aid strategies within educational institutions. For instance, studies by Zayapragassarazan (2016), Jacob et al. (2018), and Joseph et al. (2015) show that teacher certification and clear guidelines that state the methods of managing emergencies are vital for ensuring positive health outcomes among affected individuals. In addition, some authors report that first aid training should be delivered to students as well. For example, the studies by Reveruzzi, Buckley, and Sheehan (2016), Mohammed (2018), and Elewa and Saad (2017) reveal that learners should be able to manage emergencies as well. In addition, some works reveal that a lack of competence and skills in first aid are among the most significant barriers to effective resuscitation (Zinckernagel et al., 2016; Lockey, Barton, & Yoxall, 2016). Thus, it is possible to conclude that school policies have a crucial impact on educators’ abilities to provide first aid and, consequently, on students’ health outcomes.

Concept Map

Conclusion

The paper shows that first aid is a significant topic and concern for educational facilities. Studies in the field show that many teachers encounter difficulties while providing first aid to students. It means that it is vital for schools to implement measures to address this problem. Possible strategies may include teacher certification, first aid guidelines, and educational training for educators and students. The paper provides the basis for future research and shows that the topic is significant and should be addressed.

References

1. Baginska, J., Rodakowska, E., Milewski, R., Wilczynska-Borawska, M., & Kierklo, A. (2016). Polish school nurses’ knowledge of the first-aid in tooth avulsion of permanent teeth.BMC Oral Health, 16(30). Web.

2. De Buck, E., Van Remoortel, H., Dieltjens, T., Verstraeten, H., Clarysse, M., Moens, O., & Vandekerckhove, P. (2015). Evidence-based educational pathway for the integration of first aid training in school curricula. Resuscitation, 94, 8-22.

3. De Villiers, A., & Louw, A. (2015). Teaching first aid in high schools: The impact on students in the health sciences extended degree programme. South African Journal of Higher Education, 29(1), 198-210.

4. Elewa, A. A., & Saad, A. M. (2017). Effect of child to child approach educational method on knowledge and practices of selected first aid measures among primary school children. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 8(1), 69-78.

5. Hirca, N. (2018). Does teachers’ knowledge meet first aid needs of Turkish schools? Review of Turkish literature. Journal of European Education, 2(2), 16-23.

6. Jacob, O. M., Goswami, A., Ahamed, F., Dubey, M., Goswami, K., & Gupta, N. (2018). A training program on first aid and basic life support skills among teachers of a school in South Delhi: A feasibility assessment. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(10), 4345-4350.

7. Joseph, N., Narayanan, T., bin Zakaria, S., Nair, A. V., Belayutham, L., Subramanian, A. M., & Gopakumar, K. G. (2015). Awareness, attitudes and practices of first aid among school teachers in Mangalore, South India. Journal of Primary Health Care, 7(4), 274-281.

8. Keleş, P. U., Yildirim, Z., & Aydin, S. (2015). Determining the basic first-aid knowledge levels of the class teachers working in the city center of Agri. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies, 6(6), 404-410.

9. Lockey, A. S., Barton, K., & Yoxall, H. (2016). Opportunities and barriers to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in English secondary schools. European Journal of Emergency Medicine, 23(5), 381-385.

10. Mohammed, A. A. (2018). The influence of training program on knowledge and practices of preparatory schools’ children related to the selected first aid. American Journal of Nursing, 6(4), 158-163.

11. Mutch, C. (2015). The role of schools in disaster settings: Learning from the 2010–2011 New Zealand earthquakes. International Journal of Educational Development, 41, 283-291.

12. Pandey, R., Chauhan, R., Dobhal, S., Dabral, S., Nathani, S., Negi, S.,… Sorte, D. Y. (2017). First aid knowledge among health assigned teachers of primary schools. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 5(4), 1522-1527.

13. Pellegrino, J. L., Oliver, E., Orkin, A., Marentette, D., Snobelen, P., Muise, J.,… De Buck, E. (2017). A call for revolution in first aid education. International Journal of First Aid Education, 1(1), 5-11.

14. Reveruzzi, B., Buckley, L., & Sheehan, M. (2016). School‐based first aid training programs: A systematic review. Journal of School Health, 86(4), 266-272.

15. Schneider, K., Meeteer, W., Nolan, J. A., & Campbell, H. D. (2017). Health care in high school athletics in West Virginia.Rural & Remote Health, 17. Web.

16. Sharma, M. (2017). A cross section of prospective teachers’ and practicing teachers’ about first aid. International Journal of Innovative Studies in Sociology and Humanities, 2(1), 48-50.

17. Vale, S., Smith, J., Said, M., Mullins, R. J., & Loh, R. (2015). ASCIA guidelines for prevention of anaphylaxis in schools, pre‐schools and childcare: 2015 update. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 51(10), 949-954.

18. Wendy, L., Hubley, D., Doyle, B., Doucette, J., Amiro, R., Himmelan, A. B.,… Hudson, S. (2018). The 7 Rights: An active reflection tool to develop risk awareness for outdoor first aid education. International Journal of First Aid Education, 2(1), 5-15.

19. Wilks, J., & Pendergast, D. (2017). Skills for life: First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools. Health Education Journal, 76(8), 1009-1023.

20. Zayapragassarazan, Z. (2016). Urgent need to train teachers and students in first aid and CPR. Education in Medicine Journal, 8(2), 89-92.

21. Zinckernagel, L., Hansen, C. M., Rod, M. H., Folke, F., Torp-Pedersen, C., & Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, T. (2016). What are the barriers to implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in secondary schools? A qualitative study.BMJ Open, 6(4). Web.