Impact of realistic simulation on the teaching of first aid to school professionals: a quasi-experimental study

Objective: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention using realistic simulation on school professionals’ knowledge of first aid. Method: A quasi-experimental study with a pre- and post-test design was conducted with 40 professionals from a public basic education school (teachers, pedagogues, assistants, and coordinators). The intervention addressed the initial management of clinical emergencies such as unconsciousness, airway obstruction, syncope, hypoglycemia, and cardiopulmonary arrest. Participant performance was assessed using a validated checklist, and descriptive statistics and McNemar's test (p ≤ 0.05) were applied. Results: Most participants were female (80.0%) and aged between 40 and 50 years (52.5%). Teachers accounted for 67.5% of the sample. A total of 65.0% had never taken first aid courses, and 78.6% considered the training duration previously received insufficient. A significant improvement was observed in five of the six topics evaluated, especially in the management of amputations and burns (94.4% and 97.2% correct answers, respectively).Conclusion: Realistic simulation proved effective in qualifying school professionals for the initial response to emergency situations, promoting gains in technical knowledge and safety in the application of first aid protocols. The findings support the need for institutional policies that integrate ongoing practical health training within the educational setting.