Abstract

First aid is the care administered by a concerned person as soon as possible after an accident or illness. This cross-sectional study evaluates the first aid knowledge and relevant attitude of one police training school's students. The reason of conducting the survey in police training school is because that policemen is also the one who is responsible for the first handling and the discharge of the injured people who required first aid intervention. Data are obtained via questionnaires. The study universe consists of 342 registered students of the school. The field study was conducted on June 2001. Study group's age ranges between 23–28 and the average age is 25.1±1.4 years. All the students included in the study are male (100%); 83.9% are single; 48.9% are secondary school graduates. When asked, 72.7% knew the correct answer for pulse rate of an adult in one minute; 24.5% knew the number of rescue breathing to be provided in case of Asphyxiation; and 22.0%, the amount of bleeding that can lead to death. 72.1% of the students stated that the unconscious patient should be given water for recovery; 67.5%, stated that the fractures except for the vertebral fractures should not necessarily be transferred urgently; and 23.8% stated that one should not induce vomiting if the patient has had gasoline or similar substances. Of the students, 80.5% think that their first aid knowledge and attitude are not adequate; and 87.6% want to participate in first aid training courses. It has been found that the study group's first aid knowledge and attitude is not at an adequate level. This can be improved via regular first aid training provision throughout the school years. First aid subject should be handled as a separate and practical course, not as a theoretical module of a health care related course.