Involved Citizen Project: A community based first aid training program

Introduction:

The North-East is a region in Haiti lacking comprehensive pre-hospital emergency medical services.  Most individuals requiring medical care present to the hospital via motorcycle taxis or on foot.  Patients rarely receive pre-hospital care, which coupled with difficult road conditions, impedes time to medical treatment.  Utilizing a geographically oriented train-the-trainers model, this program aims to strengthen regional pre-hospital acute care by training community leaders as first aid trainers who are in turn training community members, targeting local drivers to act as emergency first responders.

Methods:

A geographically representative cohort of leaders was identified to serve as trainers within the region.  These leaders were trained to teach a locally oriented first aid curriculum that emphasizes the use of readily available materials.  These leaders are currently delivering trainings to their communities.

Results:

36 community leaders were trained in the first aid curriculum.  These participants found the course acceptable (through a post-course survey and return rates). 50% of participants reported using their skills by 6 months post-training.  Knowledge assessments at 6 months after the training indicate that participants retained knowledge.  61% of trainers completed the full curriculum.  82 community responders have been trained with a projected total of 300 over the 12-month period. 

Conclusions:

This train-the-trainer model is a well-received and effective method for strengthening the capacity of communities to care for medical emergencies in the North-East region of Haiti.  This program will serve as an integral bridge to a future formal EMS system in the region and may be applicable in similar resource-limited settings.