The European Resuscitation Council recommends that all European schools educate students in life-saving first aid. The aim is to increase the number of bystanders initiating life-saving first aid in case of cardiac arrest and calling for prompt medical assistance in the event of a stroke. In 2005, Danish legislation mandated that all Danish primary schools offer training in first aid and identification of stroke symptoms. Despite this legislative pressure, a 2014 survey estimated that up to half of schools in Denmark did not offer this training, and since then, no systematic or national initiatives have been implemented to change practices in primary schools.
In Denmark, approximately 3,500 people experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year, with only 11% surviving beyond 30 days. Prompt initiation of life-saving first aid with chest compressions, rescue breaths (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and use of a defibrillator significantly increases the chance of survival. This underscores the crucial role bystanders to cardiac arrest play in ensuring more people survive. In Denmark, resuscitation is attempted in 45% of cases before the ambulance arrives. Additionally, hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke significantly contribute to mortality rates and are leading causes of adult disability. Recognizing symptoms promptly and seeking immediate medical help are vital steps to minimize the impact of strokes.
Purpose
The overarching goal of the project is to follow up on the 2014 survey and examine the prevalence of life-saving first aid education in Danish primary schools in 2024. Additionally, the study aims to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of implementing first aid education, including curriculum planning in schools' daily routines and teachers' experiences with teaching. The results of the study will serve as a basis for future efforts to implement first aid education in primary schools.
Method
The project involves a nationwide questionnaire survey among all school principals in Danish primary schools and a selection of teachers teaching 9th grade. The survey is a repetition of a previous survey from 2013/2014, and therefore, the same questionnaire will be used with some minor adjustments, including the addition of stroke as a new focus area within first aid. The questionnaires will be distributed in May 2024, and the results will be reported in September 2024.
Project period
2024
Collaboration and funding
The Danish Resuscitation Council and Region Hovedstadens Akutberedskab are partners. The project is funded by the TrygFonden.