Nursery World - 'Teach first aid to early years children'

Pre-school children are capable of learning and performing basic first aid in an emergency situation, according to a new study.

Researchers from Haukeland University Hospital in Norway evaluated the effects of a first aid course delivered to fourand fiveyear-olds attending Hellemyren Barnehage Kindergarten in Bergen.

The children were given six first aid lessons, lasting 30 to 40 minutes each, led by a trained instructor. They were taught the 'five finger rule' - look at the person, talk to them, touch them to try and wake them, call emergency services and give comfort - as well as how to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Two months after children completed the first aid course, researchers tested them on their knowledge by creating a scenario where they had to provide first aid to a pretend unconscious victim.

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