[Parents' and caregivers' theoretical and practical knowledge of first aid in case of accidents and minor injuries in children].

Accidents and injuries cause most serious health problems in pediatric group of patients in Poland. We asked a group of 93 parents and tutors (11 men and 82 women) to complete a questionnaire containing 20 questions. It referred to their knowledge on first aid treatment. We have analyzed the answers using statistical methods and couched our conclusions. 1. The results of the enquiry show a great extent of self-satisfaction in the questioned group of parents. Most of them (64.5%) think they know first aid rules, although only 35 people (37.6%) were ever trained in this field. Parents declare they known, how to deal with such conditions as bums, slight contusions and injuries, fractures, torsions, choking and high temperature. 2. Most parents (71%) have already treated minor injuries and dealt with minor accidents which took place while they took care of a child. Most common health problems were: high temperature--23.9%, slight contusions--22.4%, minor injuries--16.1%, hemorrhage--8.8%, scalding--8.3%, choking--7.3%. Accidents occur mainly during playground activities or cycling (63%) and at home (17%). 3. When an accident involving children occurs, 29.2% of parents call for medical help, 63.8% of them do it only if very serious injuries occur and 9% always try to treat a child themselves. In our enquiry most parents knew the names of popular analgesic and antipyretic drugs. They also knew how to deal with a slight burn or scald. 4. In questioned adults' opinion health care professionals do not give enough first aid information to the society. In our examined group, 58.1% of parents try to read and learn themselves. This shows the need for training people who take care of children in first aid treatment. As the best places for such training enquired parents pointed schools, kindergartens, pediatric and obstetric clinics.