A survey of Swiss swimming pool attendants' knowledge of first-aid treatment after lip and dental injuries

Summary: Although dental injuries are common occurrences at swimming pools, there are very few publications about them. The purpose of this study was to interview pool attendants at public swimming pools/bathing resorts in Switzerland on lip and dental injuries in 2007. The questions focussed on their knowledge of first aid, the frequency and accident site of lip and tooth trauma, as well as the storage medium for avulsed teeth. Questions were also asked about the presence of a "dental first-aid kit" and the poster on dental first aid. 606 public pools were contacted, and one pool attendant per pool was interviewed by telephone. 553 individuals participated; 53 declined to take part. The results show that in 2007, 40% of the interviewed pool attendants (n = 221) had witnessed at least one lip injury, and 36.9% (n = 204) at least one tooth trauma. At pools with slides, accidents were more frequent (p>0.001), and the waterslide was the most common accident site. The pool attendants provided satisfactory answers on their actions after lip and dental injuries. However, 68.7% could not adequately answer the questions on storage of avulsed teeth. Only 74 pool attendants had a dental first-aid kit. Of these, only 68 used the kits as the storage medium for avulsed teeth. 59 pool attendants were in possession of the poster on dental first aid. Overall, it was shown that pool attendants who had a dental first-aid kit and a dental first aid poster gave better answers on how to handle tooth trauma.