Working within an education and care setting with children can be very fun and rewarding work. But what first aid course should a childcare worker or schoolteacher do? This can be a little confusing, so if you are a childcare worker, a primary school teacher, or you work in school care and vacation programs then keep reading.
In the event of an emergency, injury or sudden acute illness you want to be able to deal with the situation quickly and with confidence to help the children in your care. With so many first aid courses available and courses being superseded regularly it’s hard to know which course you should complete.
What First Aid course do I do?
If you have never completed a first aid course then you need to do a course that is comprehensive and follows the guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and is approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
In the event of an emergency, injury or sudden acute illness you want to be able to deal with the situation quickly and with confidence to help the children in your care.
A recommended course to complete would be HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting (superseding HLTAID004 Provide an emergency first aid response in an education and care setting, superseded October 2020). This course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to provide first aid to infants, children and adults. It also covers the same material as the HLTAID011 Provide First Aid (previously HLTAID003), but with an emphasis on infants and children. The course also covers specific management of anaphylaxis and asthma in children in accordance with ACECQA requirements, this is important for everyone working in an education and care setting with children.
It’s also important to check with your industry and employer or check your employment contract to determine the first aid requirements of your job. For example some employers may require all staff to be first aid trained, others may not. Even if you are not the appointed first aid officer at your place of employment you should consider completing the first aid course regardless.
Confidence and peace of mind
If you are working everyday with little children, it is imperative that you know what to do in the case of an emergency, injury or sudden illness. What if one of the children in your care has an anaphylactic reaction to something and the first aid officer at your work is engaged else where with sick or injured children. Being able to act quickly and confidently to help the children in your care is very important and would give much comfort to parents knowing their children are in good hands.
Another important consideration is knowing how often you need to renew your course to keep it current. A general rule is that the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) courses need to be renewed, updated each year (also called a refresher course) and that first aid courses need to be renewed every 3 years. But check with your industry and employer for specifics.
Training and assessment delivered on behalf of Allens Training Pty Ltd RTO 90909