Objective To understand the level of first aid knowledge of non-medical students and its influencing factors, furthermore, to provide evidence and orientation for improvement of first-aid training and adjustment of training content for non-medical students in the future.

Methods During January to March, 2018, with convenient sampling, 316 undergraduates studying non-medical related majors in a university were surveyed with self-compiled questionnaire.

Results Totally 140 non-medical students were qualified to master first aid knowledge (44.30%). Only 28.48%, 37.03% and 24.36% of them knew how to deal with fish bone stuck on throat, snake bite or hand scald. The logistic regression analysis showed that students, originally living in urban (vs. rural), having past experience on first aid event, attending the public training course of first aid, or having already attended first aid courses in high school or university, mastered better knowledge, and the qualified rates were 2.020, 4.237, 6.108 and 6.107 times of the other students (P < 0.01), respectively.

Conclusion At present, the non-medical students didn't master enough first aid knowledge. The university or/and related departments should strengthen the training of first aid knowledge.