It may come as a surprise, but most parents prefer their teen babysitters to have completed CPR and proper first aid training before they begin working as revealed in an American Red Cross survey. This means getting your CPR certification as a babysitter is more than just a certificate; it’s a way to show parents they can trust you with their children.
Proper CPR training teaches you not only when to call emergency services but also gives you the courage and ability to assist the child properly while waiting for professional help. Also, recognizing signs of choking and providing CPR to infants and children ensures your dependability as a babysitter. Here, you will discover everything you need to know to get a CPR certification for babysitting and the steps to use your CPR knowledge in a way that goes beyond basic CPR training.
CPR Certification Requirements for Babysitters
If you’re considering becoming a certified babysitter with exceptional CPR skills, you should know the requirements for such certification. Most CPR providers offering CPR certification for babysitting require participants to be at least 16 years old, but the courses can be designed for children as young as 11. In Washington state, you must be 13 years old to look after younger children. There isn’t a specific law requiring CPR certification, but you can learn to play safe games for infants, toddlers, and children to prevent accidents and injuries and provide CPR or AED help if needed.
For professional babysitters, there may be an extra requirement, like background knowledge in first aid and a CPR course for adults. Also, check the specific set of requirements for a particular certification program to know what to expect from your CPR course and provider.
Where to Get CPR Certification for Babysitting
Besides the national CPR certification requirements for specific jobs, each US state has different regulations regarding CPR certification for babysitters. Most babysitting agencies now list CPR skills as part of the job requirements, so it’s best to look at where and how you can get your certification card in Tacoma.
In-Person CPR Certification Courses
The best way you can get your CPR card is to enroll in a hands-on course. Local schools accredited by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross are the most popular options, providing courses for babysitters designed by these two organizations. The classes are mostly devoted to developing the core skills – infant and child CPR, AED use and choking-related emergencies.
These types of courses enable you to get hands-on training and practice CPR methods on mannequins. By engaging in this hands-on activity, your learning will be reinforced, and you will be prepared to execute CPR properly when it is needed.
Online CPR Certification Options for Babysitters
Alternatively, you may consider online CPR certification courses that are quite flexible and convenient, giving you the advantage of studying from home. They contain different types of content, including interactive modules, videos, and quizzes to verify your knowledge.
When selecting an online CPR certification program, you must ensure it is validated and acknowledged by reliable organizations, your babysitting agency, and parents. Search for courses in line with the AHA guidelines or other reputable bodies, guaranteeing the training you receive is reliable and extensive. But you must keep in mind that most organizations don’t accept online courses as a reliable way to get your certification, especially for infant and child CPR training.
Steps to Get Certified
Getting your CPR certification for babysitting starts with choosing an accredited provider offering an AHA or ARC program for CPR for babysitting. The classes must allow you to practice until you feel confident in your skills, and the school must issue a certification card once you pass your exam. With these credentials, you will be able to ensure the safety of the children in your care and satisfy the expectations of parents and your employer.
Select A Provider
You should choose a reputable CPR provider with a proven track record of training people of all ages. The most important thing to look for is an American Red Cross or AHA guidelines-based course, ensuring they offer trustworthy courses and give you accurate knowledge of all CPR practices. Do a background check to verify the instructors are authorized professionals with many years of experience in teaching CPR. Also, a reliable provider will quickly notify you about the exam results and issue your card the same day.
Choose Your Course
Pick the method that fits your style or your schedule better and book your seat for a CPR for babysitting course. Registration for the babysitting courses starts at the age of 13 in the state of Washington, which caters to teenagers who want to start their babysitting work early. To add to the range of skills you have, you can pursue an AHA-accredited program designed to cover the following critical areas:
- choosing safe games for children of all ages and age-relevant activities
- emergency response measures for all types of injuries, such as choking, bleeding, burns, allergic reactions, and more
- administering different kinds of CPR to infants and children and using an AED device
At the end of the course, you will have gone through the CPR drills and learned what traits a good babysitter needs to have. You’ll learn to be mindful of the child’s behavior, quickly recognize the signs of an emergency, and provide first aid and CPR. The provider will also help you learn how to present your abilities and skills when looking for a babysitting job.
Keep Your Skills Fresh
As you progress in your babysitting career, focus on staying up-to-date on your certification. Usually, it’s valid for two years, and you must renew it before it expires. Refresh your skills in shorter renewal classes and receive a new CPR card.
Applying Your CPR Knowledge As A Babysitter
Babysitting demands vigilance, and you must be able to react quickly in an emergency. Your first concern should always be the well-being of children, so CPR training and certification will help you increase their odds of surviving life-threatening situations like cardiac arrest. General first aid knowledge and CPR expertise are complementary during the many potential emergencies you may encounter while looking after children, including choking, drowning, and everyday injuries.
You need to keep your competence and preparedness at a high level, so you should refresh and examine your abilities frequently. Always make sure your babysitting service includes these essential skills:
- Suffocation or Drowning: Learn the correct method and depth of compressions and rescue breaths for infants and children.
- Choking: Learn the Heimlich maneuver and back slaps, adapting your technique based on different ages and sizes.
- Wound Care: You need to be skilled in cleaning, treating, and monitoring wounds and injuries.
- Illness Recognition: Recognize the symptoms of typical children’s illnesses and take appropriate actions.
- AED Operation: Learn how to use life-saving technology like an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). It will help you restore a normal cardiac rhythm in SCA victims.
It’s also important to communicate with parents. Talk to them about your first aid training and CPR certification. Make it clear you care about their child’s safety and have a plan in place for handling various emergencies. Speaking with the family about their emergency plan and expectations will help you stay on the same page.
CPR Certification For Babysitting: Final Thoughts
You have the duty to ensure the health and safety of the kids in your care, and becoming a licensed babysitter with CPR skills shows that you care about creating a safe environment while babysitting infants and children. It gives you the confidence to manage crises, provide first aid, and apply the correct CPR techniques if needed.
Now, you are aware of everything you need to know to get a CPR certification for babysitting, so enroll in a course and learn CPR as soon as possible to start your career as a licensed babysitter in Tacoma, Washington.