How to get First Aid Certification for Early Childhood Educators
WHAT DO I NEED?
The First Aid and CPR Certificate is an essential qualification to becoming an Early Childhood Educator in BC. To start, there are many different categories of first aid certificates, see below for a list of the different types available.
- First Aid for Home and Work
- CPR/AED for Home and Work
- First Aid for Childcare Workers
- First Aid/CPR BLS Level for Healthcare (HCP)
- First Responder/Emergency Medical Responder
- Marine First Aid
- Wilderness & Remote First Aid
- Public Education
As you can guess from the list, an ECE would need to take the First Aid for Childcare Workers. This will allow you to get the Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR/AED Level B Certificate. The certificate is valid for 3 years then you will need to take the course again to renew.
** Note: most post-secondary institutions in BC with ECE programs will allow you to earn this certificate during the course of your study.
WHERE TO GET IT?
The best organization to get your first aid certificate with is the Canadian Red Cross (Home – My Red Cross). There are many locations across Metro Vancouver offering the course as suitable times. They also list other reputable organizations that offer the course for $100-140.00 per person.
If you have trouble understanding English, and you speak Mandarin or Korean, check out Family Plus First Aid (Home – Family Plus First Aid) for their courses. They offer the course for $135.00 per person and have locations across Metro Vancouver.
If you speak Punjabi, Spanish, or Arabic, check out Pro Safe Training (Canadian Red Cross First Aid Courses – ProSafe First Aid | Training and Supplies (prosafetraining.ca)) for their course offerings. They charge $110.00 + GST per person and have locations across Metro Vancouver.
Tips for Accidents in the Daycare
MINOR INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS
In minor accidents, it is best to treat the child right away and make sure they are okay. Make sure to monitor the child throughout the rest of the day to check if there is bruising or the wound becomes more noticeable. It is good practice to take notes of any incident that happens in case parents or other teachers need to look back on it. Taking pictures can also help to understand the injury and to ease the parents mind.
MAJOR INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS
If a serious injury happens, the child needs to be initially treated in the daycare. Documentation and pictures are vital for reference and safety records. The school director or other authoritative persons must be made aware of the situation. The parents of the child should be called immediately after first aid care to inquire whether the child should be picked up and taken home.
If the situation requires the child to go to the emergency room, make sure to inform the parents where the child is going and explain the situation carefully and calmly.
**Please note that these are merely tips to help you in the workplace. Every daycare likely has their own emergency response protocol, which must be followed by all employees. Make sure to ask about the protocols to understand what to do if an emergency arises. Do not be afraid to ask questions or clarifications to help you.**
See below for a sample accident report form which a daycare may have.
