Evaluating Knowledge of First Aid Among Hospitality Management Student at the Cape Coast Technical University

The hospitality industry is characterized by fast-paced, high-risk environments where staff and students are consistently exposed to accidents such as burns, cuts, slips, and choking incidents. Given these occupational hazards, first aid proficiency is an essential competency for hospitality management students who regularly engage in hands-on training and interact with the public. This study evaluates the knowledge of first aid among hospitality management students at Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), Ghana, using the Safety Competence Theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as guiding frameworks. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, with a sample of 210 students proportionally selected from Diploma, Higher National Diploma (HND), and Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech) programmes. Data were collected through structured questionnaires covering first aid prevention, care, and maintenance, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression techniques. Findings indicate that students demonstrated strong awareness of preventive measures, including the use of protective gear, inspection of equipment, and organization of workspaces. They also showed considerable competence in first aid care, reporting confidence in wound management, bandaging, recognizing heart attack symptoms, and handling choking emergencies. Moreover, first aid maintenance knowledge, such as keeping kits accessible, restocking supplies, and disposing of expired items, was the strongest predictor of preventive practices (β = 0.609). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among the three domains, confirming that prevention, care, and maintenance are interdependent. However, the study identified gaps in advanced life-saving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), with potential knowledge decay over time among students who had received training more than a year prior. The study concludes that while CCTU hospitality students possess generally good first aid knowledge, sustained competence requires structured, hands-on training integrated into the curriculum and reinforced through periodic refresher courses. Embedding such training will not only enhance student and guest safety but also strengthen professional readiness, aligning with the hospitality sector’s standards for quality, safety, and risk management.