Preparedness is crucial in an emergency, especially if your baby or child needs first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The best way to learn CPR is from a certified instructor.
Quick Response
The American Red Cross in Greater New York states that in an emergency, a treatment delay of just 4 to 5 minutes decreases an unconscious person’s survival rate as much as 40 percent. If it takes 10 minutes or longer to get treatment, death occurs approximately 95 percent of the time. First aid courses centered around emergency care for babies and children can help you to be prepared and confident, especially if you are alone when something happens.
Types of Classes
First aid courses may be tailored around the age or occupation of the students. If you are taking a course in order to be trained at a day care center, you may be able to find a course that focuses on the requirements of that setting. Some first aid courses focus on basic first aid situations, such as excessive bleeding, and some include CPR training.
Course Materials and Information
Although first aid courses vary, many of them include topics such as choking, falls, drowning, cuts, burns, childproof measures and ways to prevent accidents. There may be an infant- or child-sized mannequin at the course that you can learn and demonstrate CPR with. Reference material may be provided that you can take home with you.
Locations
You can find baby and child first aid courses at local chapters of the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Some chapters of these organizations offer private classes, allowing you to hold a class in your home, business or church and have an instructor come and teach. Your city, community center or local hospital may offer courses as well.
Convenience
You can typically find first aid courses available days, nights and weekends. The American Red Cross and American Heart Association offer online courses as well. Some of the courses are available in other languages, and the American Red Cross keeps your records on file so it is easy to replace your certification if you lose it.
