First Aid Training for Grandparents | Red Cross

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First Aid Training for Grandparents
If you're a grandparent, chances are you're lucky enough to visit with your grandkids now and then. You may even be pulling babysitter duties! In fact, one survey* found that nearly three-quarters of grandparents (72%) have helped with childcare in the past year—and almost one-quarter (22%) care for their grandkids regularly. While grandkids can be bundles of joy, they're also bundles of energy that come with a lot of responsibility at every stage. So, knowing what to do if the unexpected happens can make all the difference when it comes to saving a life.
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Minor cuts and bruises, as well as potentially serious emergencies like dog bites, choking, drowning and beyond can happen anytime, anywhere. Luckily, first aid and CPR classes for grandparents give you the lifesaving skills and training needed to recognize and respond to these situations when they arise. Plus, you can learn quickly, easily, and on your schedule.

Here's a list of six common, and not so common, hazards that your grandkids may face, as well as the training you'll need to be prepared until help arrives:
1. Choking Hazards
  Young children, including babies and toddlers, often explore by putting objects in their mouths, which can lead to choking hazards from items like candies, toys, and other small objects. Quick intervention is crucial when an airway becomes blocked.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  To respond effectively, it's important to know how to administer back blows and abdominal thrusts, commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver. Consider enrolling in one of our online adult/child/infant CPR classes for grandparents to learn an array of emergency techniques. You can also attend an in-person session.
2. Anaphylaxis (Severe Allergic Reaction)
  Recognizing a severe allergic reaction in your grandchild, whether from a known allergen or an unexpected source, is vital.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  Learn first aid procedures, including how to administer epinephrine with an auto-injector device, by completing an online course that only takes about 30 minutes.
3. Burns and Scalds
  Children can accidentally get burned from hot surfaces or liquids, such as stoves, coffee, or straightening irons.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  Get trained on how to alleviate burn pain, properly cool burns, apply dressings, and care for a child in shock. Recognizing when to seek emergency help is also covered in our First Aid class, which you can also take online or in person, whichever works best for you.
4. Bites and Stings
  Outdoor play can result in bites and stings, and while most are minor, some can cause severe reactions or illnesses.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  Knowing how to manage the minor incidents and recognize the signs of more dangerous bites, like from venomous animals or insects, could be life-saving. Learn these first aid skills through our specialized training.
5. Cardiac Emergencies
  Sudden cardiac arrest in children, though rare, can occur from underlying health issues or external causes like drowning, electrocution, suffocation and beyond.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  Becoming skilled in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) can vastly improve their chances of survival in such critical situations. Our courses for CPR and AED are available online and in-person, providing you with the knowledge and confidence to act if necessary.
6. Bleeding
  Whether it's a minor cut or a serious injury, stopping blood loss and/or preventing infection is essential.
  
  How to Prepare
  
  You can learn to address wounds, recognize serious bleeding emergencies, and apply life-saving techniques, including the use of tourniquets and hemostatic dressings, in a concise 30-minute course.