CPR, Basic First Aid and AED Assignment
Many parents send their children into a daycare setting and expect that they will be safe.
While most children will leave each day unharmed, accidents may happen. Sometimes these
accidents are minor in nature. In other instances, these health emergencies can be more extreme.
Teachers and staff in the daycare setting need to be prepared. Working with small children leads
to many unexpected events. It is crucial that they are trained in all aspects of minor and urgent
care. These trainings can also carry-over into other aspects of life. The benefits of training an
individual are many.
First aid is called for in response to any minor incident that requires short-term medical
intervention. Not a lot of training is required to administer first aid, but, to ensure the safety and
wellbeing of both teacher and student, it is necessary for the administrator to apply safety
precautions in these situations. Everyone should be prepared to help someone in need. “First aid
can include cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, or scratches; treating a minor burn; applying bandages
and dressings; the use of non-prescription medicine; draining blisters; removing debris from the
eyes; massage; and drinking fluids to relieve heat stress” (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, 2023). There are many situations and encounters during a day that may require
an individual to step up and help someone.
When we look at the early childhood education setting, accidents can be plentiful. We
will commonly see things such as scraped knees, bumped heads and nose bleeds. Teachers are
called to be prepared for these moments. By applying the training they receive on basic first aid
procedures, teachers will be ready to handle minor incidents in the classroom. Teachers must
follow all necessary precautions when helping a child in need. An example may be when a child
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scrapes their knee on the playground. The teacher should immediately pull the child aside and
take an assessment of the injury. Then, using precautionary measures, the injury should be
cleaned and bandaged appropriately.
CPR is the medical response to a victim who appears to be experiencing cardiac arrest.
Someone who is appropriately trained will be able to assess a situation and respond quickly to
a person in distress. “Having more bystanders trained in this simple skill can help save lives
by putting more cardiac arrest victims within a few steps of lifesaving assistance” (Red Cross,
2023). When the public is more prepared to respond to situations such as these, more lives
can be saved. There are many instances in public life in which one may encounter the need to
perform this life-saving procedure. Having someone available that is trained could mean the
difference between life and death.
Children, in the preschool setting, run the risk of choking. While teachers can take
precautions, accidents can and do happen. Small toys and food are two of the risks that are
found in a classroom. “CPR is another way in which teacher can provide security when it
comes to incidents where a student may collapse or have a cardiac arrest” (National CPR
Foundation, 2019). Many lives of young children can be saved through the requirement of
this training.
AEDs are a medical device that are now more commonly found in public locations. They
are needed to revive an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. This could be the result of
a dangerously elevated heartbeat or possibly an irregular heartbeat. “The sooner the heart's
rhythm is restored, the greater the chance there won't be permanent damage to the brain and
other organs” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2022). Today’s AED device is made to be used by an average
person. Directions are given audibly and accompanied with detailed pictures.
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Sudden cardiac arrest is the reason AEDs are needed in schools. While precautions,
trainings and preparations can be made, when a heart suddenly stops, action needs to be taken.
By training teachers and staff on the proper use of this device, immediate intervention can be
taken. When devices are placed throughout the school, access is easy. These devices may be the
difference of life or death.
When teachers have been trained in first aid, lives can be saved. “As a result, learning
first aid is critical because it can help people to respond quickly to emergency situations and save
lives” (Children, Basel 2023). Families are more assured of the safety of their children when
they learn that the teachers are required to be trained and certified in life-saving interventions.
Many states understand the importance of these trainings and mandate them for employees of
daycares and early childhood education programs.
When we consider the impact of having teachers and staff trained in these life-saving
reactions, we see that lives are saved. When teachers are prepared for encounters that result in
the need of immediate, emergency response, they are more likely to experience a positive
outcome. These trainings can also carry-over into their daily lives. If more people were prepared
that would equal more lives saved.
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References:
Children, Basel (2023, March 10). The Role of a First Aid Training Program for Young
Children: A Systematic Review. National Library of Medicine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10047314/#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20l
earning%20first,can%20save%20lives%20%5B1%5D.
Mayo Clinic Staff (2022, April 26). Automated external defibrillators. Do you need an
AED? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-arrhythmia/in-depth/automated-
external-defibrillators/
art-20043909#:~:text=If%20an%20AED%20is%20near,could%20possibly%20save%20a%20lif
e.
National CPR Foundation (2019, March 25). Why CPR is Needed for Classroom Safety.
https://www.nationalcprfoundation.com/why-cpr-is-needed-for-classroom-safety/
#:~:text=CPR%20is%20another%20way%20in,cardiac%20arrest%20may%20seem%20low.
Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (accessed 2023, December 10). Medical
and First Aid – What is First Aid?.
https://www.osha.gov/medical-first-aid/recognition#:~:text=First%20aid%20can%20include%20
cleaning,fluids%20to%20relieve%20heat%20stress.
Red Cross (accessed 2023, December 10). What is CPR?.
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/what-is-
cpr#:~:text=CPR%20should%20be%20used%20when,few%20steps%20of%20lifesaving%20ass
istance.
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