Basic life support: Knowledge and attitude of air force personnel
M M Mahendrarajah
Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka
: J Surg Clin Pract
Abstract
Introduction: Basic life support (BLS), is a key component of the chain of survival to decreases the arrest. It is highly expected to know and practice about standard techniques of basic life support or Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) by all armed force personnel. Objective: The study aimed to explore the knowledge and attitude towards basic life support among Air Force personnel. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted by assessing response to self-administered questionnaire consisting of the demographic information among the air force personnel belongs to Sri Lanka Air Force station – Irranamadhu, their experience/attitude and knowledge of BLS based on the 2015 BLS guidelines of European resuscitation council. After excluding incomplete questionnaires the data from 252 responders, who randomly select from all the branches were analyzed. Results: The data from responders 252 (117 Regiment members, 61 Administrative branch members, 42 Air Defense members, 14 Explosive Ordnance Disposal members, 8 Hospital & Dental, 6 Fire Section and 4 Sport Section) were analyzed. Only 6 (2.38%) of the 252 responders answered ≥ 11 of 15, 22 (8.73%) answered 7-10 of 15, and 224 (88.89%) answered <7 of 15 questions correctly. The Hospital & Dental members, Sports section and Fire section members had a mean score of 10.25, 9.25 and 7.83 of 15 respectively, while Regiment members attained a least mean score of 3.47 of 15. Those who were received Basic Life support training at any stage obtained a mean score of 8.84 of 15, where as those who had no training obtained 3.99 of 15 (P= 0.001). Furthermore, Those who were received Basic Life Support training with in 5 years obtained highest mean score of 10.25 of 15, whereas those who had the training more than 5 years or no training obtained a mean score of 7.88 and 4.29 of 15 respectively (P=0.001) . Conclusions: Frequent training and experience can enhance knowledge of BLS/CPR of these personnel. Thus, Standard of BLS/CPR training and assessment is recommended among all to enhance the knowledge on Basic Life Support.
Biography
M M Mahendrarajah has received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Degree from Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 2012. Furthermore, He has received his Primary Aviation & Aerospace Medicine training at Institute of Aviation & Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore, India, 2015. Currently, he is working as a Flight Surgeon belongs to Sri Lanka Air Force. He is a budding young new researcher who is interested to learn more with the scientific research. His basic fields of interest areas are Trauma Care and advance surgical perspective management.
E-mail: miltonmathushan@yahoo.com
