Participating in first aid training to help you succeed in your childcare-oriented career

• 29 July 2021

Are you interested in pursuing a career that involves childcare or supervision? In many cases, these types of jobs are inaccessible should applicants have no formal first aid training or relative experience. A lack in the former can result in you being excluded from some worthwhile and rewarding job positions. But do not fear, at Emcare, we offer an extensive range of first aid training courses that will likely prepare you for your career in childcare, find out how in just a few minutes of reading.

What exactly is first aid and first aid training?

First aid refers to help that is given to a sick or injured person in need of medical attention – oftentimes before paramedics or other official personnel arrive. However, in many cases, emergency personnel are not required due to an injury being minor – which means that applying first aid may be adequate. A large aspect of first aid is being able to recognise that a problem exists and that help must be given. Naturally, the first step is to call emergency services if possible before applying any first aid measures – especially if you have not participated in first aid programs that prepares you to deal with the particular emergency.

First aid training courses will prepare you to deal with a wide range of emergency situations (depending on the particular courses in which you participate). Basic first aid training will prepare you to deal with minor injuries and illnesses as well as teach you some practical thinking skills and coping mechanisms that will assist you in keeping calm in the case of an emergency. On the other hand, more in-depth courses will teach you a wide variety of skills that could mean the difference between life and death for someone in trouble.

What first aid training courses do we offer at Emcare?

Now that you have an idea about which jobs require a level of first aid certification,  you should know which first aid training courses we offer at Emcare and what each of them entails:

The Basic first aid course:

This course is considered to be an entry-level first aid learning opportunity and covers the following:

• CPR
• Bleeding
• Fractures
• Burns
• Wounds
• Legal implications
• Ethics

 Applicants who participate in this course should depart feeling a sense of confidence and preparedness in terms of being able to treat basic emergencies should the need arise. This course is popular with school groups, community organisations as well as families and because it is a basic entry-level course, the atmosphere is very relaxed and accommodating. The duration of the course is only 1 day, and you will be presented with a certificate that is valid for 3 years.

First aid level 1 course

This course is also considered to be a basic first aid learning opportunity with an introduction to emergency care. Participants will be equipped to apply basic first aid in the face of emergencies. Tutored by registered and experienced healthcare professionals, participants will acquire theoretical knowledge as well as practical knowledge to competently apply CPR and treat choking. First aid level 1 is usually the minimum requirement for jobs involving childcare, which is why this course is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their skills before applying for any relevant positions.

The course’s duration is 1.5 days and a certificate valid for 3 years will be awarded.

First aid level 2 course

The level 2 course can be considered an intermediate first aid learning opportunity. Not only does it equip learners with a substantial knowledge of emergency care, but also teaches them an excellent standard of patient care. Included in this course is how to treat paediatric patients, which makes it an excellent choice for any individual pursuing a career in childcare. The course also covers:

• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Airway management
• Sudden cardiac arrest
• Emergency action steps
• Chest compressions
• Rescue breathing
• CPR
• Universal precautions
• Chain of survival
• AED use and operation
• Choking

The course will take 2.5 days to complete, and a certificate that lasts 3 years will be awarded upon completion.

First aid level 3 course

As our most advanced first aid training course, this opportunity is often required for people with hazardous occupations or workplace supervisors. Should you wish to pursue a childcare related career, having this course on your resumé will set you apart from other applicants.  This course covers a vast and detailed range of skills and teachings such as:

• Emergency childbirth
• Behavioural emergencies
• Revision of levels 1 and 2
• Water related emergencies
• Special patients
• Emergency oxygen therapy

 This course lasts 4 days and includes written and practical examinations in order to receive a certificate that is valid for 3 years.

The CPR and AED course

Also known as the cardio pulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillation training course, this training opportunity is designed for non-professional responders. Completing this course can make you a valuable asset in the case of relevant emergencies. The course covers knowledge and some practical skills of the following:

• Cardiac arrest
• Stroke
• Emergency action steps
• Rescue breathing
• AED use and operation
• Choking
• Chain of survival
• CPR
• Chest compressions

Participants of this course will feel prepared to assist in these cases until emergency personnel arrive on scene. The course takes half a day to complete and a certificate valid for 3 years will be awarded upon completion.

Some childcare jobs that require first aid training

Teaching

From ages 4 to 18, children spend much of their time at school and in the classroom. Emergency situations can occur anywhere at any time of the day, which is why teachers need to be well-versed in first aid measures so as to avoid any complications due to injury or illness. Most of us can remember the time spent playing outside during breaks and getting up to mischief with our peers. Unfortunately, this is where a lot of injuries occur. Pupils falling off of playground objects, stepping on sharp objects and even cutting fingers on scissors during class are regular injuries that teachers deal with while on the job.

 

While most schools have a dedicated school nurse, teachers are usually the first responders on the scene before the news of an injury reaches the professionals. Sometimes a trip to the nurse’s office can be avoided altogether if a teacher knows first aid and has their own first aid kit in the classroom or nearby. Sometimes, trouble can arise with the mishandling of an injury or emergency and there is no wrath like a parent who feels a teacher is to blame for a complication. This is yet another reason why teachers must have adequate first aid training wherein legal implications are explained as well as ethics.

Being trained in first is a great and often required addition to your CV should you wish to pursue a career in teaching. Adequate training means that in the case of emergency, necessary procedures can be performed quickly and further risks to the child are minimised.

Au pairing

First aid training is also a good idea should you wish to become an au pair. An au pair is a young individual who looks after a child or children for a family on a more permanent base than a babysitter. They are often responsible for dropping off and fetching children from school, helping with homework and taking the children to extracurricular activities. Because infants and children are accident prone, it is important to have some understanding of first aid practices and how to react in an emergency.

Being responsible for someone else’s children in the home space is daunting, which is why extra preparation can only be a good thing. Usually, a level 1 and 2 first aid course will be more than enough to bolster your au paring application and ensure the extra safety of your small wards when their parents are not around.

Babysitting

Unlike au paring, babysitting is more part-time. However, this does not minimise the pressure felt when it comes to the risk of infant injury. Looking after very young children requires constant vigilance and the ability to perform safety and risk assessments, which is a topic addressed in most first aid courses and programs. If you can successfully perform this, you may be preventing a future injury. Adding a first aid course to your resumé is a great way to get prospective clients to feel comfortable with you looking after their children for short periods of time – and can therefore set you well on your way in the business.

Most common injuries in children

Infants and children are continuously growing, which tends to make them rather clumsy and accident-prone. Getting an idea of which child injuries are the most common, as well as how to deal with them, can give you a head start even before your first aid training begins. The following list details the 2 most common injuries in children and what to do when they occur:

1. Falls

Injuries due to falls are by far the most common child-related accidents. In the United States of America, around eight thousand children are treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries each day, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. There are specific locations where children are prone to falling, namely:

• Windows
• Beds without railings
• Stairs
• Elevated landings
• Slippery bathtubs
• Cluttered corridors and pathways

Small children and toddlers do not develop in-depth movement control and  balance until they are older, which is why the above locations pose greater risk to them. Injuries of the spine, head, neck and back often occur as a result – and expert care then becomes necessary. After a fall, if a child is experiencing any of the following symptoms they must be rushed to an emergency room:

• Intense bleeding
• Swelling anywhere on the body
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Evidence of broken bones
• Memory loss about the incident (if they are old enough to communicate this)
• Loss of consciousness

2. Accidental impacts

Being struck by or against an object – also referred to accidental impact – is another leading cause of injury in children. While most children, especially if they play sport, get bumped regularly, these accidents are most likely minor. However, many accidental impact injuries can lead to serious problems if left unattended. The following are some instances where accidental impact is likely to occur:

• Being hit by an object such as a ball or falling storage container
• Walking into furniture, doors or walls
• Being pinned under something that has tipped over
• Sport-impact related injuries