First Aid Training Course for Kindergarten Teachers: Enhancing Preparedness for the New Academic Year

Introduction: Schools often encounter various situations that demand prompt first aid responses, such as child falls, choking incidents, airway obstructions due to food-related choking, foreign objects lodged in throats, seizures, high fevers with convulsions, and more. In anticipation of the forthcoming academic year, Yen So Preschool (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi city) and the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD) have joined forces to organize a first aid training course for kindergarten teachers. This initiative marks the second occasion on which the preschool has undertaken this practice-based first aid practice.

Course Overview: The training course encompasses a range of essential topics, including a review of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, first aid measures for airway obstruction, and practical exercises focusing on handling children during outdoor activities, particularly in cases of heatstroke and insect stings. Additionally, the course addresses methods of handling incidents involving children who fall, slip, or sustain scratches.

Experiential Learning: Today’s 180-minute practice session proved highly beneficial in refreshing the school’s teachers’ practical knowledge acquired during their previous training in 2019. Demonstrating commendable understanding, the kindergarten teachers showcased proficiency in theoretical aspects of CPR and first aid for choking. However, during the initial attempt to apply first aid on medical manakins equipped with a lung bag for breathing, the first group of kindergarten teachers exhibited some hesitancy in correctly following all prescribed steps. Subsequent groups, however, demonstrated marked improvement after receiving additional guidance and timely reminders, rapidly mastering the practical aspects of first aid.

The knowledge and practical skills imparted during today’s lessons equipped teachers with the confidence to handle diverse situations that may arise during outdoor activities with children. As this was their first exposure to such training, the teachers exhibited tremendous enthusiasm. Within the remaining 60 minutes, they became adept in administering first aid, proficiently applying bandages, and utilizing ointments to alleviate the effects of insect bites.

All teachers achieved a 100% passing rate in both the knowledge post-test and the practice-based final tests.

Conclusion: The Yen So Preschool (Hoang Mai district of Hanoi city) successfully equipped its entire teaching staff with vital first aid skills. This preparation ensures a safe and joyful new academic year, further emphasizing the commitment of educational institutions to the well-being of their students.