Award in Paediatric First Aid
Course Description
This Paediatric First Aid award is designed to equip learners with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and confidence needed to respond effectively to a range of emergency situations involving infants and children.
This award aims to:
- Provide learners with the skills and knowledge to respond confidently to medical emergencies involving babies and children.
- Ensure learners can recognise and manage common childhood injuries and illnesses.
- Promote safety awareness and early intervention in childcare environments.
Entry Requirements
Students must have a valid award in basic first aid obtained in the last 12 months.
If English is not the first language of the applicants, they are required to demonstrate proficiency in the language through formats such as the IELTS (recommended score of 5.5) and the OET, amongst others.
Target Audience
The target group includes individuals who are responsible for the care, supervision, or well-being of infants and children. This course is specifically designed to meet the needs of those caring for infants (0-12 months) and young children up to puberty.
Career Paths
This award aims to equip learners with a basic knowledge in paediatric first aid. This award prepares learners for a wide range of occupations especially those whose roles involve direct or indirect responsibility for the safety and care of infants and children.
The following outlines a list of occupations where paediatric first aid training is either essential or highly beneficial: nursery practitioners, child-carers, nannies, playgroup leaders, primary school teachers, teaching assistants, special educational needs, school nurses, social workers, foster carers, youth group leaders, and any type of teachers working with children.
Modules
You are required to complete 1 compulsory module (1 ECTS) to fulfil the requirements of this Award.
🏁 Amazing! You’ve just achieved your Award Paediatric First Aid.
Award in Paediatric First Aid
Assessment
Practical Skill Assessment:
- Purpose: To assess the students’ hands-on ability when performing life-saving procedures.
- Method: Learners demonstrate key skills such as infant/paediatric CPR, use of an AED on children, placing a child/infant in recovery position, managing choking incidents in infant/children
- Assessment tool: Skill checklist or rubric scored by the instructor.
Written Test:
- Purpose: To evaluate the students’ understanding of paediatric first aid principles, procedures, and decision making.
- Format: Multiple Choice Questions.
- Topics Covered: Emergency Steps, Signs and symptoms in children, legal responsibilities, appropriate paediatric first aid responses
Course Intake Dates
TBC 2026
Learning Outcomes
Competences:
The learner will be able to:
- Assess a paediatric casualty quickly and accurately.
- Make informed decisions and prioritise care in an emergency.
- Remain calm, reassuring, and professional in stressful or emotional situations.
- Communicate effectively with children, families, and emergency services.
- Document incidents accurately for handover or regulatory purposes.
- Act as a designated first aider in early years settings, schools, or child-focused workplaces, in line with national guidelines.
Knowledge:
The learner will be able to:
- Recognise the differences between adult, child, and infant physiology, particularly with regards to airways, circulation, and CPR techniques.
- Outline the legal responsibilities of a paediatric first aider, including consent, duty of care, and record-keeping.
- Identify the principles of primary and secondary assessment, including how to conduct a safe scene survey.
- Describe how to recognise and respond to common paediatric medical emergencies.
- Recognise the emotional and psychological needs of children in emergencies.
Skills:
At the end of the programme, the learner will be able to:
- Perform CPR on an infant and a child, including rescue breaths and chest compressions.
- Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) safely and effectively on children.
- Manage a choking emergency using back blows and abdominal/chest thrusts.
- Place an infant or child in the recovery position when unconscious but breathing.
- Control bleeding and treat wounds, including cuts, grazes, and nosebleeds.
- Respond to burns, scalds, and electrical injuries appropriately.
- Immobilise fractures and treat sprains and dislocations safely.
- Manage shock, head injuries, and spinal trauma in a child-appropriate way.
- Provide first aid for bites, stings, and eye injuries.
- Maintain infection control and follow hygiene protocols when administering first aid.