ABSTRACT
Schools should pertain to a comprehensive system to deal with day to day emergencies, as children spend more than six hours at school and are liable to suffer from injuries and illnesses
Objectives: this study was conducted with the objective of assessing the experiences of students regarding healthcare management especially first aid patterns at school
Study Design: cross sectional study
Setting: study was conducted on 50 students enrolled from ten identified public and private schools of Lahore
Period: six months
Methods: in depth interviews were conducted on students from classes 6-10 who had suffered from an injury or illness during school hours within the last six months
Results: in these 50 students the most common injury were fractures and dislocations [15], most common illness was fever [19]. Majority [41] were managed at schools with a first aid facility and provision of sick rooms [28]. Teachers were the main healthcare providers in private schools [17], as compared to public schools [9]. Lack of properly trained health professionals was observed; only 7 out of 50 schools had employed nurses. Health education regarding hand washing, personal hygiene, dengue prevention was being provided in [45] schools
Conclusion: this study highlights the importance of provision of first aid services at school and the need to train teachers regarding basic life support. Implementation of the existing school health program needs to be emphasized in all schools of Lahore