Childcare first aid training is an ethical and sometimes legal requirement for anyone responsible for the safety of children.
This specialised training focuses on the unique needs of infants and young children. The need for establishing a separate first aid category is because children’s bodies respond differently to injuries. The child-appropriate techniques used differ significantly from those applied to adults.
Now you know this, you can understand how the right response can make all the difference when it comes to their survival.
With accidents being the leading cause of injury in children, having the skills from a Childcare First Aid Training course can become the difference between life and death.
Childcare Vs Adult First Aid
One of the main differences between childcare and adult first aid is the difference in the patients’ bodies.
Children, especially infants, have much smaller airways, which means they will choke far more easily. Their little bodies are also more fragile, so a different approach is needed during CPR or basic life support.
The force applied for a child’s CPR chest compressions must be significantly lighter than the force you would use for an adult. For example, with adult CPR, it is recommended that you use stacked hands, straight arms (locked elbows) and the force of your whole body downwards through your arms. For a child, it is recommended you use stacked fingers only and the partial force of your forearms which is a huge difference in force.
Childcare first aid also includes managing common childhood conditions such as asthma and severe allergic reactions.These are often not as prominent in adult first aid training as the majority of people grow out of these conditions after puberty.
Are Children More Likely To Need First Aid?
Most people don’t know that children need first aid more often than adults due to their natural curiosity and physiological vulnerability.
In Australia, children under the age of five are particularly prone to accidents, with 15% of all hospital-treated injuries involving children. These accidents often occur at home, schools and childcare centres, making it crucial for caregivers and educators to be trained in childcare first aid.
Falls, burns, drowning and poisoning are some of the most common accidents among children.Knowing how to respond quickly and effectively can significantly reduce the severity of these incidents.
Children and Accidents in Australia
When it comes to children under the age of 15, they account for almost 25% of injury-related hospitalisations in Australia. This figure is surprisingly high, but it shows there is a demand in the market for people trained in childcare first aid. Whether it is a play, care, education or sports facility, childcare first aid training is essential for the lives of the children involved.
The need for first aid is higher in younger children, as the majority of fatal accidents happen between the ages of one and four. Drowning is a leading cause of death, followed by car accidents and falls.
Accidents are always unexpected, which is why having a person on-site with a solid knowledge of child-specific first aid can save lives.
Gain vital skills with our childcare first aid training course! Get in touch with us to register.
