title: Evidence-based educational pathway for the integration of first aid training in school curricula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "Calling for help, performing first aid and providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)" is part of the educational goals in secondary schools in Belgium (Flanders). However, for teachers it is not always clear at what age children can be taught which aspects of first aid. In addition, it is not clear what constitutes "performing first aid" and we strongly advocate that the first aid curriculum is broader than CPR training alone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop an evidence-based educational pathway to enable the integration of first aid into the school curriculum by defining the goals to be achieved for knowledge, skills and attitudes, for different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were identified through electronic databases research (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase). We included studies on first aid education for children and adolescents up to 18 years old. A multidisciplinary expert panel formulated their practice experience and expert opinion and discussed the available evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 5822 references and finally retained 30 studies (13 experimental and 17 observational studies), including studies concerning emergency call (7 studies), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (18 studies), AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use (6 studies), recovery position (5 studies), choking (2 studies), injuries (5 studies), and poisoning (2 studies). Recommendations (educational goals) were derived after carefully discussing the currently available evidence in the literature and balancing the skills and attitudes of children of different ages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An evidence-based educational pathway with educational goals concerning learning first aid for each age group was developed. This educational pathway can be used for the integration of first aid training in school curricula.
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium. Electronic address: Emmy.Debuck@rodekruis.be.
authors.forename: Emmy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Buck
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Remoortel
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dieltjens
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarysse
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (VIGeZ), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moens
authors.affiliation: Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandekerckhove
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004630:Emergencies; D005392:First Aid / Q000379:methods*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials
keywords: Children; Evidence-based practice; First aid knowledge; First aid skills; First aid training; Helping behaviour