Popular education in first aid

a nursing internship experience in a school setting

Abstract

This article sought to describe a health education initiative entitled “First Aid Education”, carried out at a public state school in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The activity was conducted by undergraduate nursing students from the Federal University of Uberlândia during their supervised internship and was grounded in the principles of Popular Health Education. Its objective was to promote participatory learning on appropriate responses to emergency situations, including seizures, choking, wounds, and cardiac arrest. The methodology consisted of a practical workshop organized into four thematic stations and conducted through a dialogical and participatory approach, enabling students to experience basic first-aid techniques. The results demonstrated a high level of engagement among the basic education students who participated in the educational activity, as well as the strengthening of nursing’s educational role. Through playful activities and interaction, the initiative helped demystify the fear of acting in emergency situations. The study concluded that the school setting constitutes a privileged space for health education practices grounded in dialogue and the appreciation of popular knowledge, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between universities and communities in fostering citizenship education and preventive health practices.