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Course overview

This online Paediatric First Aid Training course covers essential first aid principles and common scenarios specifically for infants and children, including managing infection control, conducting primary and secondary surveys, reporting and recording incidents, performing CPR, managing unconscious casualties, using an AED on a child or baby and positioning them in the recovery position. The course also addresses the role and responsibilities of a paediatric first aider and offers guidance on medical conditions, injuries and illnesses, such as drowning, choking, wound care, shock management, electrical shocks, burns, bone fractures, head injuries, asthma, allergic reactions, epilepsy, meningitis and more.

This online course is not a substitute for practical first aid training that a qualified paediatric first aider will require. To ensure compliance with first aid regulations, consult  your workplace’s first aid needs assessment and government requirements to determine the number of staff and level of paediatric first aid training needed. You can also refer to government documentation, such as the Department for Education (DfE) ‘First aid in schools, early years and further education‘ guidance.

This course is suitable for:

Anyone wanting to learn and gain confidence in administering first aid to babies and children, such as parents and babysitters.

Individuals looking for a refresher on paediatric first aid in the workplace, regardless of whether they are a designated paediatric first aider.

Qualified paediatric first aiders who need annual refresher training following a practical paediatric first aid course.

  • Developed by qualified first aid professionals
  • Designed for administering first aid on infants and children
  • In line with the latest UK health and safety legislation
  • Fully online and instant access 24/7
  • Use any device with internet access
  • Stop and restart at any point
  • Automated reminders when training is due for renewal
  • Free retakes if needed
  • Manage and track your course progress if you coordinate team learning
  • Supported by a dedicated customer service team

Bulk buy discounts

Number of courses: Price per course (excl VAT)
1 to 9 £18.00
10 to 19£16.20
20 to 49£15.30
50 to 74£14.40
75 to 99£13.50
100+£12.60

Volume discount applied at checkout

What you will learn

In this online Paediatric First Aid Training course you will learn how to respond quickly and effectively, offering first aid to medical emergencies and illnesses in children and babies.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

 

  • Understand the basic first aid principles for dealing with specific incidents, illnesses and particular medical conditions in children and infants.
  • Comply with legal requirements and regulations governing paediatric first aid.
  • Conduct primary and secondary surveys to assess infant and child casualties.
  • Develop skills to be confident enough to perform CPR and operate AEDs on infants and children.
  • Apply first aid principles for breathing and airway emergencies in infants and children.
  • Effectively treat paediatric wounds and bleeding.
  • Assess and learn how to treat burns and scalds, chemical burns, electrical injuries and electric shocks.
  • Apply first aid techniques for minor head injuries and understand when immediate medical attention is required for major head traumas.
  • Manage first aid responses for children who may have bone fractures, spinal injuries, dislocations, sprains and strains.
  • Confidently handle common medical conditions in children and babies, including asthma, allergic reactions, epilepsy, seizures and more.
  • Assess, manage and apply first aid treatments for common paediatric injuries, such as incidents involving the eyes, nose as well as bites and stings.
  • Identify and differentiate symptoms of different serious childhood illnesses such as meningitis, sepsis and croup, as well as use first aid treatments and know when to seek expert medical help.

Modules

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1. Introduction to Paediatric First Aid
In this introductory module, you will gain an overview of the legal requirements and regulations that govern paediatric first aid and be able to identify and assemble suitable first aid items to create a comprehensive first aid kit. You will also explore infection prevention measures, understand proper hand hygiene techniques and recognise the importance of recording and reporting paediatric first aid incidents.
2. Primary and Secondary Surveys, Basic Life Support and Using an AED
In this module, you will learn how to conduct the steps involved with conducting primary and secondary surveys to evaluate the condition of an infant or child casualty and being aware of potential hazards to ensure the safety of everybody involved. This module also covers performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on infants and children and operating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for babies over one year old. 
3. Airway and Breathing Difficulties
This module focuses on essential skills for handling breathing and airway emergencies in infants and children. You’ll learn how to respond to choking incidents, manage episodes of hyperventilation, assist in drowning situations and recognise and treat hypothermia cases.
4. Wounds and Bleeding Emergencies
In this module, you will learn how to respond confidently and effectively to paediatric injuries and emergencies involving various types of wounds and bleeding. The module outlines the appropriate treatment methods to deal with such occurrences and includes techniques for effectively bandaging wounds, as well as recognising and managing shock in children and infants.
5. Burns and Scalds, Chemical Burns, Electrical Injuries and Electric Shock
In this module, you will assess and learn how to treat burn-related injuries, which is especially important for children under the age of five. It will also cover appropriate first aid measures to minimise further damage and explore the various causes of different types of burns.  Also included will be information on how to effectively treat chemical burns and electrical injuries and electric shock.
6. Head Injuries
In this module, you will learn how to differentiate between minor and severe head injuries in children and infants, understanding the signs and symptoms associated with each. You’ll also cover how to apply first aid techniques for both minor and major head injuries and understand when immediate medical attention should be sought.
7. Musculoskeletal Injuries
In this module, you will learn about fractures, spinal injuries, dislocations and sprains and strains that are commonly incurred by children and how to recognise the common signs and symptoms of each injury. You will also understand the preventive measures you can take to reduce the risk of injuries and undertake typical first aid interventions such as immobilisation techniques and applying the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method for sprains and strains.
8. Common Paediatric Medical Conditions
This module will cover a range of medical conditions commonly occurring in children and babies, such as asthma, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, epilepsy and seizures, febrile seizures, diabetes and sickle cell disease. You will learn how to recognise the signs and symptoms of each condition, manage them effectively and provide first aid assistance.
9. Injuries and Incidents in Children and Babies
In this module, you will learn how to assess, manage and respond with first aid treatment to common paediatric injuries involving the eyes and the nose as well as bites and stings.
10. Childhood Illnesses
Prompt medical intervention for childhood illnesses such as meningitis, sepsis and croup is vital as it reduces the risk of longer-term complications and improves outcomes. You can achieve this by understanding how to identify and differentiate the symptoms of different illnesses, learn and apply first aid treatment principles and importantly, when to seek urgent professional medical attention.

Who is this course for?

  • Teachers and classroom assistants especially those working with younger children
  • School administration and support staff
  • Paediatric nurses
  • Childminders and anyone who works with children in their own home
  • Nannies and au pairs
  • Private, independently run out of school club managers
  • Sports club, sports coaches and leisure facility staff
  • Early Years professionals and nursery staff
  • Playgroup and creche workers
  • Babysitters
  • Parents, carers, foster carers and grandparents
  • Children’s activity coordinators and outdoor adventure centres
  • Volunteers that work with children, such as scout leaders
  • Children’s entertainers
  • Child and family support workers
  • Youth workers and mentors focused on younger age groups
  • School bus drivers and taxis that escort children
  • Social, early intervention and family support workers dealing with children and families
This online Paediatric First Aid Training is an excellent introduction for anybody wanting to feel more confident providing first aid to infants and children. It is also suitable for any professionals seeking to learn about paediatric first aid in the workplace and for certified paediatric first aiders requiring annual refresher courses after completing practical paediatric first aid training.

Certification

This online Paediatric First Aid Training course is assured by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Upon successful completion of this online course, you’ll be sent a personalised digital certificate as a PDF, enabling you to download and print it.

You can access a copy, reprint or download this certificate on our LMS (Learning Management System). This is your proof that you have been trained in first aid best practices and achieved compliance. The certificates include a verification number so anybody can authenticate the certificate’s legitimacy.

Our certifications include a renewal date but there is no legal requirement to renew your training and certificate within a specific timeframe. However, we do recommend that you arrange refresher training after two years so you remain confident in administering your paediatric first aid skills. You should update your health and safety knowledge and skills regularly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is paediatric first aid?
Paediatric first aid refers to the practice and techniques of providing immediate medical care to infants and children who are injured or become ill, until professional medical help arrives. This form of first aid is tailored to the specific physiological differences and medical needs of children and infants and therefore the advice can be different in key areas from general first aid courses, which tend to focus on adult emergency first aid situations.

Paediatric first aid typically covers a wide range of topics, including:

  • Recognising and responding to breathing and non-breathing emergencies, including choking.
  • Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) specifically for infants and children.
  • Using an automated external defibrillator (AED) on children.
  • Managing injuries such as cuts, bruises, burns and fractures.
  • Identifying and responding to signs of serious illnesses and conditions like meningitis, febrile convulsions and allergic reactions.
  • Handling emergencies involving poisoning, bites and stings.
  • Understanding the legal responsibilities of a paediatric first aider.
What is the difference between paediatric first and general first aid courses?
Paediatric first aid training courses are specifically tailored to the unique physiological differences and medical needs of children and infants. The advice and techniques can differ significantly from those in general first aid courses, which primarily focus on addressing adult emergency situations. It’s important for individuals who regularly care for children to understand these differences in first aid approaches so they can adapt their responses accordingly.

Here are some examples of how first aid advice differs for adults, children and infants:

  • CPR: For adults, you should use two hands. For children, one hand is recommended and for infants, you must only use two fingers.
  • Defibrillation: Paediatric AED pads should be placed differently on small children compared to adults and older children.
  • Choking: The procedure for assisting choking adults is very different from the approach for babies and young children.
Is paediatric first aid training a legal requirement?
Paediatric first aid training is a legal requirement for settings that fall under the Department for Education/Early Years Foundation Stage framework, such as nurseries, preschools and reception classes in schools.

The EYFS framework mandates that all newly qualified entrants to the early years’ workforce holding a level 2 or level 3 qualification must have either a full paediatric first aid (PFA) or an emergency paediatric first aid (EPFA) certificate before they can be included in the required staff-to-child ratios. They have three months to complete their training after starting work with a new employer. You must have at least one 12-hour full paediatric first aid qualified member of staff available at all times including cover for sickness, holidays and trips. if you’re looking to become a qualified paediatric first aider you will also need to complete an additional practical in-person course to meet current legislative requirements.

For childcare providers registered with Ofsted, the requirements can vary depending on the type of registration. Childminders and providers on the Early Years Register must meet the EYFS requirements for paediatric first aid training.

 

Why is an online paediatric first aid course good for parents?
An online paediatric first aid course is a cost-effective method for parents to improve their knowledge and skills in emergency care for their children. It gives them the confidence to make quick and effective decisions in potentially life-threatening situations involving children until professional medical help arrives. This online paediatric first aid course is tailored to the unique medical needs of infants and children and covers everyday scenarios and common emergencies such as choking, burns, falls and allergic reactions.
Do Ofsted approve paediatric first aid courses?
Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) itself does not directly approve paediatric first aid courses in the UK. However, it does require childcare providers on the Early Years Register and childminders registered with the Childcare Register to have a certain level of paediatric first aid training. The specific requirements are outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years old.

For a paediatric first aid course to be considered valid for Ofsted registration purposes, it must meet the criteria set out by the EYFS. This typically means that the course should be:

  • Relevant and suitable for the age of the children being cared for.
  • A minimum of 12 hours of training for full paediatric first aid certification.
  • Delivered by a trainer or training organisation with the appropriate qualifications and experience.
  • Additionally, from 2016, newly qualified early years providers who have completed a level 2 or level 3 childcare qualification must also have either a full paediatric first aid or an emergency paediatric first aid certificate to be included in the required staff-to-child ratios at work.

It is best practice for settings to select training courses whose first aid outcomes match Ofsted and EYFS requirements.

If you’re looking to become a qualified paediatric first aider you will also need to complete a practical in-person course to meet current legislative requirements.

How it works

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Purchase

Add the course(s) to the basket, check out and pay

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Learn

Work through the course modules at a time convenient for you

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Assess

Complete the final multiple-choice assessment

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Certify

Download your certificate on completion