Paediatric first aid training is an important part of keeping children in nurseries safe. There are legal requirements for nurseries to always have a member of staff around who has had paediatric first aid training, and these skills are highly valuable for anybody, especially parents, to have.
In England, all nurseries registered with Ofsted must have a staff member who is trained in paediatric first aid on site during opening hours. They must have done at least 12 hours of paediatric first aid training.
In Scotland and Wales it’s very similar, with all nurseries registered with the Care Inspectorate or Care Inspectorate Wales, respectively, needing at least one first-aider on the premises.
Nurseries must also have a first aid box that is easily accessible to staff and fully stocked with in-date equipment.
Training must be refreshed every three years. This is to make sure that skills are up to date with current medical guidance.
This is the bare minimum, and many nurseries ensure that many, if not all, of their staff undertake the training.
What does paediatric first aid training cover?
Spotting and reacting to medical emergencies, including:
- Choking
- Unresponsive
- Infant CPR
- Anaphylaxis
- Asthma attack
- Hypothermia or heatstroke
- Meningitis
- Sepsis
- Seizures
- Diabetic emergency
- Swallowed harmful object or substance
Treating injuries, including:
- Burns
- Wounds
- Suspected fractures, sprains and strains
- Facial, eye and head injuries
Millie’s Mark
Nurseries can voluntarily sign up to become accredited with Millie’s Mark. This prestigious award shows that the nursery follows the necessary training and procedures to meet eligibility criteria, including that every single member of staff who works directly with children must have up-to-date paediatric first aid training.
The accreditation was founded by the parents of Millie Thompson, who tragically died at nursery in 2012.
You can find out more and find accredited nurseries near you on the Millie’s Mark website.
How can I learn first aid for my child?
Learning first aid is a life-saving skill, and the more people who do it the better. If you’re interested in learning, remember that some skills are different for children than for adults, an example being how to help somebody who is choking.
There are lots of first aid courses you can pay for, both in person and online. You can find useful videos for free, on YouTube and the British Red Cross website.
Best of all, British Red Cross have first aid apps, one for adults and one for babies and children. It’s a good idea to download both and learn first aid and safety precautions on them. There is also an emergency feature for if your child (or someone else) needs immediate first aid, that tells you exactly what to do according to the person’s need.
Their website gives more information about the first aid apps and how to download them.
