On the 1st September 2016, a new law rolled out nationwide to ensure that for the first time ever, all newly qualified staff with a childcare qualification must be trained in vital, lifesaving paediatric first aid.
After the loss of their 9-month-old daughter Millie in a tragic choking incident on her third day at a Stockport nursery in October 2012, Joanne and Dan Thompson focussed their grief into setting up Millie’s Trust - a charity that aims to make first aid training affordable and available to all.
The new legislation - known as ‘Millie’s Law’ - will mean an extra 15,000 staff a year coming into the childcare and education sector will have paediatric first aid training, providing vital reassurance to parents that children will be treated quickly and accordingly in an emergency.
Nannies of St. James wholly supports this new law and all our candidates hold up to date DBS and first aid training certificates, which must be renewed every 3 years. We accept candidates with standard first aid credentials but paediatric first aid certificate holding nannies are preferable for family placements.
On a paediatric first aid course, you will learn how to help a child or baby who:
- is unresponsive and breathing
- is unresponsive and not breathing, including:
- the chain of survival
- the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) on a child
- is choking
- is bleeding
- is burnt or has a scald
- has an object in their eye, ear or nose
- has hypothermia or heat exhaustion
- has sickness or a fever
- 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. (source: The Red Cross) For further information on paediatric first aid courses, follow these links: • http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/training-courses/first-aid-courses/paediatric-first-aid.aspx • https://www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/Courses/First-aid-at-work-courses-uk-mainland/Scheduled-courses/Paediatric-first-aid.aspx • http://www.milliestrust.com/
Here are our top five reasons why you should have a certificate in specific paediatric first aid:
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In a critical situation, you can save lives with simple yet effective techniques.
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Standard first aid training teaches you how best to deal with situations such as burns, sprains and broken bones. However, to learn how to effectively help a baby or child that is choking you will need to complete a paediatric first aid course.
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Infant emergencies such as meningitis can escalate very quickly and can result in fatality if not treated promptly. Working fast can make a difference between life and death.
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You never know when emergencies will arise when you work with children. It is therefore advisable to attend a paediatric first aid course and learn how to handle critical situations in a calm and effective manner.
- Caring for children as a professional brings a great deal of joy and also huge responsibility, knowing what to do should an accident happen is essential to give you and parents peace of mind, knowing their child(ren) is safe in your care.
What are your thoughts on this new legislation? Can you recommend a paediatric first aid course to fellow nannies? We’d love to hear from you, leave us a comment on our Facebook page.