%0 Journal Article
%T First aid skill retention of first responders within the workplace
%A Gregory S Anderson
%A Michael Gaetz
%A Jeff Masse
%J Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1757-7241-19-11
%X Using a choking victim scenario, the sequence and accuracy of events were observed and recorded in 257 participants paid to act as first responders in large industrial or service industry settings. A multiple choice exam was also written to determine knowledge retention.First aid knowledge was higher in those who were trained at a higher level, and did not significantly decline over time. Those who had renewed their certificate one or more times performed better than those who had learned the information only once. During the choking scenario many skills were performed poorly, regardless of days since last training, such as hand placement and abdominal thrusts. Compressions following the victim becoming unconscious also showed classic signs of skill deterioration after 30 days.As many skills deteriorate rapidly over the course of the first 90 days, changing frequency of certification is not necessarily the most obvious choice to increase retention of skill and knowledge. Alternatively, methods of regularly "refreshing" a skill should be explored that could be delivered at a high frequency - such as every 90 days.Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among persons 1-34 years of age in Canada [1] and 1-44 years in the United States, resulting in approximately 2.6 million hospitalizations, 34.9 million emergency room visits and 87.6 million medical office visits per year for all workers in the U.S. [2]. Basic first aid training prepares bystanders to react and provide immediate and efficient treatment for a wide variety of incidents including alerting the emergency medical system (EMS), maintaining the airway, breathing and circulation, respiratory and cardiac arrest, and hemorrhage control. The response time in emergency situations is critical, but the first aid provided must be performed properly in order to prevent further complications and potentially save lives [3].To improve the emergency response and outcome, first aid must be taught correctly to
%U http://www.sjtrem.com/content/19/1/11