Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 102, March - April, 2020
Assessment of school readiness for medical emergencies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Shatha A. Alduraywish1,2♦, Osama M. Abdulqader3, Feras A. Alsuwaida3, Abdullah M. Alsultan3, Abdulaziz A. Almanie3, Nasser T. Alqahtani3, Sultan M. Alotaibi3, Fahad M. Aldakheel2,4
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh - Saudi
Arabia.
2Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, King Saud University, Riyadh - Saudi Arabia.
3College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Collage of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh –
Saudi Arabia
♦Corresponding author
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and
Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
Email: salduraywish@ksu.edu.sa
ABSTRACT
Background: Children spend one third of their day in school and are vulnerable to physical injuries because of lack of awareness
about dangerous situations. Aims: We aimed to evaluate medical emergency preparedness among primary and intermediate schools
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to compare private and public schools’ readiness in term of equipment’s, skills, knowledge and attitude
toward life support courses. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 school staff from 39 schools using a validated
questionnaire to assess equipment and staff knowledge. Results: 44% (n=83) of school staff had Basic Life Support (BLS) training, of
which 77% were staff from public schools. Staff in private schools had higher practical training (63%) than those in public schools
(33%). There was a significant different in the availability of bronchodilators and epinephrine pen between private and public schools
(p-value 0.04 and 0.01 respectively). Overall, both sectors showed poor staff knowledge of medical emergency situations.
Conclusions: This study showed insufficient knowledge and skills in both sectors; however the private sector has greater knowledge
and skills. A positive attitude was recorded toward BLS.
Keywords: : Basic life support (BLS); Emergency; Equipment; Schools; Teachers; First aid
Medical Science, 2020, 24(102), 691-698
