Basic emergency care at primary, secondary and tertiary health care level in India is in its infancy. Lack of training in emergency care is an important factor. We designed AIIMS basic emergency care course (AIIMS BECC) to address the issue.

To improve the knowledge, skill and attitude of healthcare workers and laypersons in basic emergency care and to identify and train instructors.

Prospective study conducted over a period of one and half years. The target groups were medical, police, fire fighter, paramilitary forces, teachers, school children of India. Provider AIIMS BECC is of one day duration. The contents of the course are cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, chocking and special scenarios like trauma, electrocution, drowning, hypothermia, pregnancy, etc. Course was disseminated via lectures, audio-visual and hands on training. The participants were evaluated by pre and post test questions. Subjects had to score 80% to be successful and those who scored more than 90% were eligible for instructor course. The confidence levels at baseline and at the end of the course were evaluated in policecourses were evaluated on course clarity, course delivery and trainers quality on a likert scale (1 = worst, 5 = excellent).

1614 subjects were trained. 99.81% became providers and 2.6% were trained as instructors. 83.1% were non-medical and16.9% were medical personals. 76.14% were police, paramilitary 0.8%, teachers 1.6%, students 2.1% and mixed groups were 2.6%. The average and modal increase in confidence level among police were 66.14% and 62.49%. Likert scale of ≥ 4 was observed in 90.7% in course clarity, 91.28% in course delivery and 95.26% in trainer quality.

Knowledge, skill and attitude of healthcare care and laypersons in providing basic emergency care improved by community emergency care initiative. Instructors were identified for further dissemination of the course. The confidence levels increased among police.