For workplace courses including First Aid at Work please see Trainng in the Workplace and for training for the public see Training for Public.
Being a youth worker or working with children can be incredibly rewarding, children generally have a "go for it" attitude, loads of energy and confidence in their abilities. Most of those who work with children including volunteer youth workers will need some form of first aid training.
The current standard for a lot of those who work with children is a 12 hour Emergency Life Support Course with a specific emphasis on treating children taught over two days. (A lot of the governing bodies for those working with children like the DfCES, insist on 12 hours as a minimum).
Children will often try new things regardless of how safe they are. They aren't interested in risk assessments being done or if health and safety officers have said it's safe. This means sometimes they hurt themselves, a majority of the time not seriously.
It is a natural inbuilt adult response that when children are injured or ill to want to protect and help them. First aid training will make a difference when dealing with an emergency involving injured or ill children. Panic sets in easily an children react differently to adults when ill or injured which can confuse adults around them.
White Star Medical runs a 12 hour course which covers a range of topics relevant to those working with children. From 2008 White Star Medical will include training in Epi-Pen use on all 12 hour courses. For those with existing FA certificates there is a stand alone Epi-Pen training course.
This course is aimed at those who need a first aid course because they work with children of various ages. There is a short bit of time in the course that can be used for covering specific topics in more detail or adding in a specific topic if required. For example extra time on diabetic emergencies if there is a lot of children with diabetes with a group that youth workers are working with.
Students receive hand outs during the course. The teaching has an emphasis on dealing with children.
Certificates: Certificates issued based on continous assessment during the course and a short practical exam, certificates are valid for three years.
Minimum Students/Maximum Students: 4/12.
Content of Course:
This course is designed for those who need a short introductory course cover just the bare essentials. Students receive hand outs during the course. The teaching has an emphasis on responding to life threatening emergencies involving children and briefly covers adults.
Certificates: Certificates issued based on continous assessment during the course and are valid for three years.
Minimum Students/Maximum Students: 4/12.
Content of Course:
White Star Medical uses Epi-Pen trainers that are identical to Epi-Pen's but don't have any Adrenaline in them. Please see Epi-Pen training for more information.