CPR and First Aid Training for Parents

Whether you're a parent with a brand-new baby, or have years of experience raising children, knowing what to do when medical emergencies occur can make all the difference when it comes to saving a life. From unfenced backyard pools to small toys that turn into choking hazards, to minor cuts and scrapes, emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. Luckily, first aid classes for new parents (and all types of parents) 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 are a few common, and not so common, hazards that kids can face, as well as the basic skills you can learn until help arrives:

• Choking. Kids put a lot of things in their mouths. That's especially true for babies, toddlers and small children. Whether they're choking on a piece of candy, a small toy, or something else, a blocked airway requires quick action.
  • Skills Needed: Back Blows/Abdominal Thrusts. Knowing when and how to use back blows and/or abdominal thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver) can help prevent injury or even death. Learn how you can be prepared by signing up for one of our adult/child/infant CPR classes for parents online, or you can take one in person.
• Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis). Whether your child has a known allergy, or one you are not yet aware of, knowing the signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction is critical.
  • Skills Needed: First Aid, Administering Epinephrine/Auto-Injector Device. Training on how to care for someone during anaphylaxis will include knowing how to recognize symptoms and administer epinephrine using an auto-injector device. This lifesaving online skills course only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
• Burns. Maybe your child touched a hot stove, a scalding cup of coffee, a curling iron, hot water or something else. There are things you can do to ease their pain and promote quicker healing.
  • Skills Needed: First Aid for Burns. From the proper way to cool a burn, to when and how to apply dressings, to caring for a child who is in shock, to knowing when to call 9-1-1—a First Aid class will show you how to administer fast and effective treatment for burns, scalds and more. Sign up for a online First Aid class today.
• Bites and Stings. Kids love to play outside, making bites and stings a normal part of growing up. Luckily, most of time, they don't cause serious problems. But certain bites and stings can cause serious or life-threatening illness.
  • Skills Needed: First Aid for Bites and Stings. Knowing how to treat minor bites and stings, as well as how to recognize serious emergencies like venomous snake or insect bites, will make all the difference. It's scenarios like these that call for a parent skilled in First Aid training.
• Cardiac Arrest. Hopefully, most parents will never have to experience something like this with their children. But cardiac emergencies can happen, whether it's because of an underlying heart condition or an outward cause like electrocution, suffocation, a prescription drug reaction or something else.
  • Skills Needed: CPR and AED. Knowing how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) can save lives. In fact, CPR can double or triple someone’s chance of surviving. Training only takes a few hours and can give you the skills and confidence to act in an emergency and help save your child's life. You can sign up quickly and easily for an in-person or online child and baby CPR and AED course now.
• Bleeding. Whether they cut their finger on a sharp object, or something much more serious, knowing how to stop the flow of blood is key.
  • Skills Needed: First Aid, or Tourniquet and Hemostatic Dressing. From dressing a minor wound, to recognizing severe bleeding emergencies, taking action can help create positive outcomes. In about 30 minutes, you can learn how and when to control bleeding, as well as information about applying a tourniquet and hemostatic dressing.

Life happens. As a parent, you can learn how to confidently take on everything from minor cuts and scrapes to life-threatening scenarios until help arrives. You may also be interested in our Advanced Child Care Online Course, which includes training in leadership, child behavior and discipline, professionalism, safety, basic childcare (bottle feeding, holding) and more. And don’t forget to download the free Red Cross First Aid app and activate the First Aid Skill for Alexa-enabled devices. Have an older child who babysits your kids or other children? Sign them up for an online babysitting basics class so they can be prepared, as well.

For more than a century, the American Red Cross has prepared people to respond to emergencies of all sizes, from the everyday to the large disaster. Join the millions we train every year and learn skills that can save a life. Browse all of our classes and sign up today.