Effectiveness of a school-based fire preparedness program on the knowledge and skills for fire response among primary school students

Introduction: In the border region of Thailand, the absence of a standardized school preparedness program exposes schools to the risk of fires, which can result in injuries, fatalities, and property damage. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a fire preparedness program for primary schools in Chiang Rai province's border area, serving students from various ethnic backgrounds. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized to assess the influence of a fire preparedness program on the knowledge and skills of fire response in primary school students. The study was conducted between July and October 2022, involving a total of 420 primary school students. Results: This program significantly increased students’ knowledge of fire composition (p<0.001), types of fire (p<0.001), fire response (p=0.049 and <0.001), and the basic inspection of a fire extinguisher (p<0.001). The fire preparedness program can enhance the fire prevention knowledge scores of students across all grade levels (p<0.001). Furthermore, the program has enhanced students' fire response and evacuation skills, elevating their scores from 1.22±0.43 to 3.83±0.51 (p<0.001). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the vital role of fire preparedness programs in enhancing fire safety knowledge and equipping students with essential fire response skills. Such programs are important in preparing students from diverse ethnic backgrounds to effectively respond to fire emergencies.