RT Journal Article
T1 School children brief training to save foreign body airway obstruction
A1 Martínez Isasi, Santiago
A1 Carballo Fazanes, Aida
A1 Jorge Soto, Cristina
A1 Otero-Agra, Martín
A1 Fernández Méndez, Felipe
A1 Barcala Furelos, Roberto
A1 Izquierdo, Verónica
A1 García-Martínez, María
A1 Rodríguez Núñez, Antonio
K1 Airway obstruction
K1 Training
K1 Kids save Lives
K1 Teachers
K1 School
K1 Basic life support
AB Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) is a relatively common emergency and a potential cause of sudden death both in children and older people; bystander immediate action will determine the victim’s outcome. Although many school children’s basic life support (BLS) training programs have been implemented in recent years, references to specific training on FBAO are lacking. Therefore, the aim was to assess FBAO-solving knowledge acquisition in 10–13-year-old school children. A quasi-experimental non-controlled simulation study was carried out on 564 ten-to-thirteen-year-old children from 5 schools in Galicia (Spain). Participants received a 60-min training led by their physical education teachers (5 min theory, 15 min demonstration by the teacher, and 30 min hands-on training) on how to help to solve an FBAO event. After the training session, the school children’s skills were assessed in a standardized adult’s progressive FBAO simulation scenario. The assessment was carried out by proficient researchers utilizing a comprehensive checklist specifically designed to address the variables involved in resolving a FBAO event according with current international guidelines. The assessment of school children’s acquired knowledge during the simulated mild FBAO revealed that 62.2% of participants successfully identified the event and promptly encouraged the simulated patient to cough actively. When the obstruction progressed, its severity was recognized by 86.2% and back blows were administered, followed by abdominal thrusts by 90.4%. When the simulated victim became unconscious, 77.1% of children identified the situation and immediately called the emergency medical service and 81.1% initiated chest compressions. No significant differences in performance were detected according to participants’ age.  Conclusion: A brief focused training contributes to prepare 10–13-year-old school children to perform the recommended FBAO steps in a standardized simulated patient. We consider that FBAO should be included in BLS training programs for school children.
PB Springer
YR 2023
FD 2023
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33103
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33103
LA eng
NO Martínez-Isasi, S., Carballo-Fazanes, A., Jorge-Soto, C. et al. School children brief training to save foreign body airway obstruction. Eur J Pediatr 182, 5483–5491 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-023-05202-x
NO This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) [PI20/01355], co-funded by the European Union (EU). Aida Carballo-Fazanes is recipient of a predoctoral fellowship by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (FPU19/02017).
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026