Evaluating The Effect Of Educational Interventions By The Red Crescent On Improving Children's Response To First Aid

Abstract

Background: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has been intensifying initiatives to include first aid training in the children's curriculum, taking into consideration the significant contribution made by early intervention training to emergency response capacity.

Objective: This review assesses the effect of Red Crescent educational interventions on increasing the knowledge, competence, and response capacity of children in first aid between 2019 to 2025.

Methods: Systematic review of Red Crescent education programmes was conducted by comparing the data of 15 countries against organised first aid curricula. Pre- and post-intervention testing was compared with standardised measures.

Results: Red Crescent education interventions showed significant improvement in knowledge on first aid among children (mean improvement: 68.4%), application of practical skills (mean improvement: 72.1%), and self-confidence in coping with emergencies (mean improvement: 58.7%). Programmes reached over 2.3 million children in programme countries.

Conclusion: School-based Red Crescent interventions are highly effective in fostering children's retention of first aid skills with long-term knowledge retention and improved emergency response behavior in educational and multicultural settings.