Medical Emergencies in Primary Schools and School Ownership of First Aid Boxes

Abstract

Introduction: The school system aims at developing pupils academically and socially. In the process of achieving this, pupils are prone to accidents and medical emergencies due to their vulnerabilities. The ability of the school system to respond to these challenges may depend on the availability of well equipped First Aid Boxes (FABs) and the promptness of initiation of first Aid treatment. Objectives: The study determined the prevalence and types of medical emergencies in primary schools and the level of ownership of FABs. Methods: Using a multi-stage sampling technique, twenty-two primary schools were studied and a cross sectional study design was employed. Interviewer administered questionnaire and check-list were the instruments of data collection. SPSS statistical software version 16.0 was used for the analysis. Results: The 22 primary schools had a total population of 6,933 pupils; (4.9%) of the 139,494 population of the district. Twenty seven percent of the respondents experienced bruises, falls, and cuts; (22.7%) fever, cuts and episodes of convulsion; (13.6%) fever, bruises, stomach pains, falls and fractures. About (59.1%) of the primary schools had FABs with only (45.5%) of these schools with FABs containing the basic items. Conclusion: This study has brought to light the level of ownership of FABs in primary schools as well as prevalence and types of medical emergencies in primary schools. In view of this, actions need to be taken to address the identified gaps.