Aim of the study Bystanders can play an important role in the event of sudden injury or illness. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of a 3-day first aid course for all primary school age groups (7–14 years old). Methods 582 school children were involved in the study. Training consisted of three sessions with transfer of theoretical knowledge and practical skills about first aid. The following most urgent situations were addressed in our study: adult basic life support (BLS), using an automated external defibrillator (AED), handling an unconscious patient, managing bleeding and calling the ambulance. Data collection was made with a questionnaire developed for the study and observation. Students were tested before, immediately after and 4 months after training. Results were considered significant in case of p<0.05. Results Prior to training there was a low level of knowledge and skills on BLS, management of the unconscious patient, use of an AED and management of bleeding. Knowledge and skills improved significantly in all of these categories (p<0.01) and remained significantly higher than the pre-test level at 4 months after training (p<0.01). Younger children overall performed less well than older children, but significantly improved over the pre-test level both immediately and 4 months after training (p<0.01). Prior first aid training was associated with knowledge of the correct ambulance number (p=0.015) and management of bleeding (p=0.041). Prior to training, age was associated with pre-test knowledge and skills of all topics (p<0.01); after training, it was only associated with AED use (p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the depth of chest compression and children’s age, weight, height and body mass index (p<0.001). Ventilation depended on the same factors (p<0.001). Conclusion Children aged 7–14 years are able to perform basic life-saving skills. Knowledge retention after 4 months is good for skills, but thinking in algorithms is difficult for these children.

Early childhood plays a key role in the formation of healthy habits and the establishment of health literacy. Nonetheless, there are only a few research studies focusing on the health literacy level of children under the age of eight. The aim of our systematic review is to explore empirical research on health literacy related to early childhood. The research was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. This systematic review examines 12 studies published between 2013–2022. Results show that research focuses on different domains of health literacy for children. In relation to children’s food literacy, children understand the relationship between health and nutrition and they realize the health impact of obesity. The habits connected to oral health are strongly associated with parents’ knowledge of and behaviours around oral health. Results related to health care situations show that children are able to be actively involved in decision-making processes in connection with their health. Exploring young children’s health literacy is essential in order to be able to plan health promotion interventions, embedded into early childhood education. Picture-based messages or story-based messages supported by illustrations can help measure health literacy in early childhood and can support the formation of health literacy.

First aid programmes should include not only the transfer of knowledge and skills but also improve participants’ helping attitudes. The aim of this study was to evalute the immediate and long-term effects of a 3-day first aid programme for kindergarten children. One hundred and eighteen kindergarten children (5–7 years old) from an inner-city kindergarten located in Pécs, Hungary, were involved in this study between January 2016 and June 2017. Training consisted of three 45-minute sessions involving the transfer of theoretical knowledge and practical skills about first aid. Knowledge, skills and attitudes were assessed by means of a questionnaire developed for the study and through observation. Participants were tested before and immediately after the programme and at 4 and 15 months. The majority of children had no prior knowledge in first aid. Knowledge and skills significantly improved immediately after training and remained significantly higher at 4 and 15 months when compared to baseline – calling the ambulance (p < 0.01), performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; p < .01), using an automated external defibrillator (AED; p < .01), handling an unconscious patient (p < .01) and managing bleeding (p < .01). Attitudes towards first aid improved significantly after the programme (p < .01) and remained improved after 4 and 15 months when compared to baseline (p < .01). Beginning first aid education in kindergarten can be useful. Children cannot become professional bystanders immediately following training, but the programme can offer an introduction of first aid. However, the results decreased substantially after 15 months so regular refreshing training should be recommended.

An adequate level of health literacy is essential for clear communication between patients and health care workers. The internationalization of universities is increasing in the field of health care. The aims of our research were to measure (1) the level of health literacy and its correlation among university students and (2) the relationship between the different instruments measuring health literacy. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the 2020/2021 academic year. The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic status, study data, health status, and health literacy level. According to the HLS-EU-Q16 health literacy questionnaire, more than half of the students had a limited HL level in disease prevention (52.4%) and health promotion (58.4%) subindexes. Nationality was found to be an influencing factor (p < 0.001). According to the NVS, 80.1% of the students had an adequate HL level. A significant correlation was found between the results and nationality (p = 0.005). None of the Chew questions demonstrated a correlation with nationality (q1 p = 0.269, q2 p = 0.368, q3 p = 0.528). Nationality is a key factor in the level of subjective and functional health literacy. We need to measure both types of levels to see the real results.

Our randomized controlled simulation study aimed to compare the CPR quality, time-related factors, attitude and self-assessment of non-healthcare university students (aged 18–25) compared video-assisted (V-CPR, n = 50) with telephone-assisted (T-CPR, n = 49) and unassisted (U-CPR, n = 48) CPR in a simulation setting. Regarding to chest compression depth, no difference was found between the three groups (p = 0.065): 41.8 mm, SD = 9.9 in the V-CPR; 35.9 mm, SD = 11.6 in the T-CPR; and 39.4 mm, SD = 15.6 in the U-CPR group. The mean chest compression rate was the best in the V-CPR group (100.9 min⁻¹, SD = 17.1) which was superior to the T-CPR (82.4 min⁻¹, SD = 35.4; p = 0.005), and the U-CPR (84.2 min⁻¹, SD = 30.6; p = 0.013) groups. The overall proportion of correct hand position was the highest in the V-CPR group (48, 96%), compared to the T-CPR (28, 57.1%; p = 0.001), and the U-CPR (34, 70.8%; p = 0.001) groups. V-CPR led to a delay in the time to the first chest compression compared with the U-CPR group (77.5 s, SD = 19.2 vs. 31.3 s, SD = 13.3, p < 0.001). Although V-CPR technology holds the potential to improve overall CPR quality, the importance of appropriate chest compression depth should be emphasized in training for laypeople and dispatchers, as well. Our study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05639868, 06/12/2022).