What first aid training does a children’s activity provider need?

As anyone who’s ever worked with children or has their own children will know, with kids around you never know what might happen!  As a class instructor or organiser people will look to you for advice on what to do in an emergency so it’s vitally important to have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to know how to act quickly, appropriately and efficiently in the event of an emergency involving a baby or child.  At Daisy First Aid we provide essential first aid skills to children’s activity providers like you, so you and your customers can be confident should the unexpected happen.

There are lots of ways to learn: face-to-face, live online, e-learning and there are a number of different courses available. But which one is the right one for you?  

First aid classes can vary on what they cover and how much depth they go into.  Shorter classes are for awareness and basic practical first aid skills. They will give you the confidence and know how of what to do. 

Full day courses (6 hours and 12 hours) are formal qualifications which give you more time to practise and greater knowledge around treatments, accident recording and pre-existing medical conditions children in your classes may have.  These courses are assessed by a qualified first aid trainer and are valid for 3 years.  12-hour Level 3 Paediatric First Aid courses can be completed as a blended learning option.  This is where you complete the first 6 hours online in your own time (you don’t have to complete it all in one go, you can log on and off as many times as you need to, so it fits around your other commitments) and the second 6 hours are a practical day with a qualified trainer.  

Things to consider when deciding which class is best for you and your business are:

• What type of activity do you provide – are children up and about, exploring or using props or materials you supply?

• How old are the children who come to your classes?

• Do adults attend your classes as well as children? - It might not always be a little one who needs your help.

• Are you Ofsted registered?  - If you are Ofsted registered you must hold a valid Level 3 Paediatric First Aid certificate without any gaps inbetween your qualification dates.

• Anything identified on your business’s risk assessment of the venues you use and the activity you provide.

• How big is your team?

• Does your team vary from day to day and venue to venue?

• How many children do you have in your classes or setting?

• If you are a part of a franchise, your franchisor may specify the minimum level of first aid qualification you must have to meet your franchisee obligations.

• Does your insurance provider expect you to have a certain first aid qualification as part of their terms and conditions?

Once you have an idea of who, what and where you need first aid trained staff, you can see which course fits your needs best.

Other things to consider:

As well as first aid courses you should also consider taking courses that cover topics around safeguarding and child protection, risk assessments and infection control.  These will all help give you a full understanding of how to create the safest environment possible for the little ones in your classes or activities.

Ensure you have a well stocked first aid kit with you at all times.  Don’t rely on venues or settings having their own.  You may find you are left short without the items you need.  Your first aid kit should have items such as scissors, cleansing wipes, disposable gloves, plasters, adhesive dressings, bandages, eye bandages, CPR face shields, instant ice packs and bravery stickers (you can’t feel better without a sticker!) and anything else identified on your risk assessment.  For example, your risk assessment may have highlighted a need for additional foil blankets in your kit if you had to get wet little ones outside quickly in an emergency. 

Ensure all your team know where to access your first aid kits, what your process is when they have used items and who is responsible for restocking your kits.

Don’t forget when you are first aid qualified to shout about it in your marketing.  Parents wrongly assume everyone is first aid trained.  Being visible about how passionate you are about keeping everyone in your classes safe will not only give your parents peace of mind they are in good hands, but also attract more customers to you. 

Daisy First Aid provides training for childcare professionals and activity providers across the UK to give them the confidence to know what to do in an emergency.  If you’d like to find out more or book any of our courses, head to our website www.daisyfirstaid.com and pop in your postcode where you’ll be directed to your nearest Daisy First Aid trainer.

Guide Written by Nic Welsh, Daisy First Aid

Here is more information on each type of class

2-Hour Duty of Care Class

This award-winning class, which is taught up and down the country by our friendly trainers, is perfect for anyone wanting basic first aid skills and the confidence to know how to act in an emergency. It covers babies from birth up to children aged 18 years old. In this class you’ll learn:

• CPR for babies, children & adults

• Recovery positions for babies, children & adults

• How to recognise and deal with choking 

• Meningitis

• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions)

• Burns

• Head injuries

• Febrile seizures (infant fits)

• Broken bones

• Poisoning

• Bleeding & bandaging

• Shock

This course can be done either face to face, live online via Zoom or as a e-learning course.  

If you feel you need a more indepth course, our 6 hour Emergency Paediatric First Aid course and our 12 hour Level 3 Paediatric First Aid course are formal qualifications accredited by CPD.  These courses give you a greater depth of knowledge of not only how to treat someone but also the requirements needed for accident reporting, pre-existing medical conditions that children may come to you with and how to use a defibrillator (AED).  If you are Ofsted registered, you must complete the 12 hour Level 3 Paediatric First Aid course every 3 years.  It is a requirement that you are requalified before your current qualification runs out. Be aware that Ofsted do not allow gaps inbetween your certificate dates. 

6-Hour Emergency Paediatric First Aid - Face to Face

This course covers how to help a baby or child who:

• is unresponsive and breathing

• is unresponsive and not breathing, including the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

• is choking

• is bleeding

• is suffering from shock

• is burnt or has a scald

• is having a seizure

• is having an anaphylaxis shock

This course is perfect for anyone who wants more detailed knowledge on the topics listed. This is an assessed course with continuous assessment by one of our expert trainers.

12 hour Paediatric First Aid – Blended learning & Face to face options

This course is a Level 3 qualification, which meets the requirements for Ofsted and EYFS and is suitable for children’s activity providers and childcare professionals. 

On successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate which is valid for 3 years.

This course covers how to help a baby or child who:

• is unresponsive and breathing

• is unresponsive and not breathing, including the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

• is choking

• is bleeding

• is suffering from shock

• is burnt or has a scald

• is having a seizure

• has an object in their eye, ear or nose

• has hypothermia or heat exhaustion

Or has a medical emergency, including:

• meningitis

• diabetic emergency

• seizures

• asthma attack

• severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)

• has an injury to a bone muscle or joint including spinal injuries

• has a head injury

• has swallowed something harmful.