Developing disaster management and first aid guidelines for school teachers in Cairo Egypt

Abstract

Background : Each year, schools all over the world suffer from disasters, ranging from small to large damaging disasters that affect children safety and health. Teachers play significant roles in child protection. Therefore, teachers’ training is very important for effective school disaster management. Aim: This study aims at evaluating the effectiveness of educational guidelines on school teachers’ knowledge and skills regarding disasters and first aid management of school children. Methods : Quasi-experimental design utilized for conducting the study. Purposive sample of 59 school teachers from Mostafa Kamel preparatory school and Emad Ali Kamel primary school, Cairo Egypt allocated. Data were collected through demographic data, school teachers’ first aid and disaster management knowledge, observation checklist for first aid and disaster management. Results : The study revealed that, regarding knowledge, 18.6% of teachers had satisfactory first aid knowledge pre intervention; meanwhile post intervention was 66.1%. For practice, 59.3% of them gained adequate first aid practice after implementation of program, while pre intervention only 10.2% of them had. Also 1.7% of them had satisfactory disaster management knowledge and practice pre intervention, meanwhile post intervention 61% of teachers got with statistical significant difference pre and post intervention. Positive correlation found ( p > .000) among demographic characteristics, school teachers' knowledge and practice of first aid and disaster management. Conclusions : The study concluded that a disaster management and first-aid training program for school teachers improved their knowledge and practice. Recommendation: Implementation of this program is highly recommended for all school teachers to enhance their knowledge and practice regarding disaster and first aid management. Further research needed to assess the impact of such programs on school health safety and child health.