Children Save Lives: Evaluation of a First Aid Training in Norwegian Kindergartens

Part of effective Early Childhood Education and Care is to support children's awareness of hazards and management of possible injuries during risky play. This study evaluated the attitudes of Norwegian kindergarten teachers towards "'Henry' first aid training" and its impact on 3-6-year olds' understanding of first aid. 588 kindergarten employees completed an online survey and 50 children (26 boys and 24 girls) participated in semi-structured interviews gauging their knowledge of first aid before and after using "Henry." These children's knowledge of first aid was compared to 46 children who had used "Henry" over a longer period. Survey results indicated strong enthusiasm among kindergarten teachers for the use of "Henry." Children's understanding of first aid increased from pre- to post- interviews, t (43) = 8.878, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.32. Findings are discussed in relation to the international scalability of Henry and the need for training kindergarten teachers and children in first aid.