Introduction: Ageing population in Europe poses challenges to first aid training. Evaluating opinions among young generations in Slovenia showed a positive attitude towards first aid courses, while the views of the elder generations are not yet explored. Early recognition of health conditions, effective implementation of basic life support and immediate activation of emergency health services are critical factors of survival after a sudden illness outside the hospital environment. Purpose: Our research purpose was to assess elderly people's knowledge about basic life support and their willingness to participate in theoretical and practical training. Methods: The research was based on a descriptive method with a quantitative approach. A questionnaire containing 19 questions was used to collect the data. We included a random sample of people over 65 years of the age, provided they were physically active, without prior medical education, and reside in the urban or rural areas of the central Slovenian region. The surveys were conducted in September, 2017. We analysed the data using Microsoft Office Excel. Results: The survey included 175 people aged between 66 and 75 years of age, that had completed vocational or high school. 74 % of respondents have not attended a first aid course in ten years or more. The results also show that 93 % of the elderly people have not yet performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a person. Only 12% of respondents identified all three signs of cardiac arrest, while 47 % of respondents recognized correct breathing as one of the signs. 63 % of respondents would be willing to attend course of basic life support techniques specially designed for elderly people. Discussion and conclusion: The results of the research showed that elderly people have insufficient knowledge of basic life support. Since elderly people represent almost one fifth of the Slovenian population, this thesis proposes more emphasis should be given to their first aid education.
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