First aid for those who work with children

It’s important that everyone who cares for or works with and around children knows what to do in an emergency. First aid and basic life support skills can save lives and ensure you can respond in an emergency.

First aid actions for all settings with children

Follow these recommendations to keep children safe and well.

Make sure staff receive first aid and basic life support training

Training is essential for staff working with children, as it provide the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in emergencies.

Repeat training regularly

Regularly refreshing first aid knowledge helps staff stay confident in their skills. It's recommended that training is repeated at regular intervals and when circumstances change, such as a change in roles, children getting older, or changes in staffing.

Make sure staff can access first aid equipment

Staff should have access to the right first aid equipment for the situation and the children they're responsible for, be trained to use it confidently, and know how to get to it in an emergency.

Encourage parents to get first aid training

First aid training for parents and carers, including online and free sessions, is available. Share these training options with the parents and carers you communicate with, and explain why training is important.

First aid actions for schools and childcare settings

As well as the previous recommendations, schools and childcare settings are also recommended to do the following.

Ensure access to necessary equipment and devices

  • Schools are advised to consider buying a defibrillator as part of their first-aid equipment. Find out how you can buy defibrillators at a reduced cost with the the Department for Education (DfE)
  • Medicines and devices such as asthma inhalers, blood glucose testing meters and adrenaline pens should always be available to children and not locked away
  • Schools and childcare settings should have access to specialist medical equipment or devices, if needed. This will be dependent on a child's specific health needs and can sometimes be provided by parents or carers. Where necessary, staff should be trained to use any specialist equipment. This can be agreed via individual healthcare plans

Develop and maintain individual healthcare plans

  • Schools that care for children at risk of sudden health events (such as children with allergies, heart disease, congenital anomalies, or severe asthma) should have individual healthcare plans in place
  • Plans should be reviewed at least annually, or earlier if evidence is presented that the child’s need have changed
  • Plans should be drawn up in partnership with the school, parents or carers, and relevant healthcare professional
  • Plans should include what to do in an emergency, including who should be contacted
  • All relevant staff should be aware of emergency symptoms and procedures, and pupils should know what to do in general terms (for example, telling a teacher immediately if help is needed)
  • There's guidance for supporting pupils at school with medical conditions from the DfE. This guidance may also be helpful for other settings who care for children with medical conditions

Provide ongoing support to staff who support children at risk of sudden health events

  • Staff should be supported to feel prepared for possible medical events and how to respond to them, as well as recognising the emotional impact this responsibility could have on them
  • Additional wellbeing support should be provided to staff after any emergency incident

Millie’s Mark in early years settings

First aid training for professionals

Early years paediatric first aid course

School staff first aid course

  • St John Ambulance offer a one-day first aid course for school staff, designed to give staff knowledge of first aid to cover common risks for school students. There's a fee for this course

Free group awareness sessions for volunteers

Online resources