Population Awareness and Attitude towards First Aid in Burn in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia – A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Worldwide, an estimated 180, 000 deaths per year are caused by burns. Majority occur in low- and middle-income countries. Inadequate awareness of burn first aid has been reported in both developed and developing countries. In Saudi Arabia, studies reported inadequate level of knowledge of general population of first aid in burns emergencies including communities of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Majmaah and Hail.

Objective: we aim to assess the general knowledge and attitude regrading burn first aid among Makkah Al-Mukarramah population. Thus, the results of this study could help to understand the need of community to more implantation of Health Awareness Campaigns to help burn injuries managements.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using an online survey. A total of 1390 participants completed the questionnaire from 15 February to 15 March 2019.

Results: Around 51.4% believed that washing burned area with cold water is the immediate first aid in 1st degree burns, 38.3% and 61.7% believed that going to the nearest emergency department is the immediate first aid in 2nd and 3rd degree burns, respectively. Around 46.7% agreed to remove the clothes stuck to the burned skin in case of burns , 34.5% applied traditional home remedy including toothpaste, honey, tomato paste or egg.

Conclusion: we found that population of western region have fair knowledge and attitude towards first aid in burns. However, traditional home remedy practice still present. Health Awareness Campaigns still needed to improve community attitude towards burn injuries managements furthermore.