Guides · Workplace & courses · 3 min read
First aid in nurseries and schools: what institutions need to know
In nurseries, one first aider per children’s group is required. What the training for education and childcare institutions includes and who bears the costs.
In short: For day-care centres for children, DGUV Vorschrift 1 (DGUV Regulation 1) provides for one first aider per group of children. First aid training in educational and childcare facilities for children comprises 9 teaching units; the costs are usually covered by the statutory accident insurer (Unfallkasse).
What makes this training special
- Resuscitation of infants and children
- Choking and breathing difficulties
- Falls, head injuries, dental accidents
- Allergic reactions, seizures, febrile convulsions
- Burns, poisoning, insect stings
- Calming and caring for children, including the other children
Who should take part?
Nursery teachers, school teachers, childminders, after-school club and childcare staff. It makes sense for the whole team to practise together, ideally in your own premises.
Refresher course
As with all workplace first aiders, at the latest every two years. Many facilities set a fixed team day for this; from 12 participants we come to you.
Children are not small adults
In an emergency, children differ from adults in important ways. Their airways are narrower and swell shut faster. They cool down more quickly and dehydrate faster with fever or diarrhoea. In children, cardiac arrest usually has a breathing problem as its cause – which is why resuscitation in children begins with five rescue breaths. And children often cannot say what is wrong. All of this is practised in the course on infant and child manikins.
The most common emergencies in everyday life
| Situation | First action |
|---|---|
| Fall on the head | calm, cool, observe; if vomiting, drowsiness or unconsciousness, call 112 |
| Choking with breathing difficulty | encourage coughing, firm back blows between the shoulder blades, call 112 |
| Knocked-out tooth | keep the tooth moist – ideally in a dental rescue box – and see a dentist immediately |
| Scald | cool briefly with lukewarm water, not with ice; for larger areas call 112 |
| Febrile convulsion | protect from injury, put nothing in the mouth, note the duration, call 112 |
| Suspected poisoning | do not induce vomiting, call the poison helpline or 112, keep the packaging ready |
The Berlin poison helpline can be reached around the clock on 030 19240.
What the facility should have in place
- Emergency plan by the telephone and in every group room: emergency number, address of the facility, first aiders
- First aid kits in every area and a bag for outings
- Information on individual children: allergies, chronic illnesses, emergency medication – with a written agreement with the parents
- Documentation: every accident is recorded; if a child has to see a doctor, an accident report to the statutory accident insurer (Unfallkasse) follows
- Informing parents: who calls and when is decided in advance
Outings and celebrations
On outings, at least one trained person should always be present – with a first aid bag, telephone and the children’s emergency information. For summer festivals and sports days with many guests, a fixed first aid point is worthwhile; for large school events we can provide this on request as event medical services.
Training at your own premises
When the whole team learns together, everyone afterwards knows the procedures and where the equipment is kept. From 12 participants we come to your facility and tailor the examples to your daily routine. More under in-house training; the general rules are in the guide First aiders in the workplace.
Frequently asked questions
May nursery teachers give medication?
Only with a written agreement with the parents and following medical instructions. This also applies to emergency medication for allergies or epilepsy.
Does the “one first aider per group of children” rule also apply to schools?
It applies to day-care centres for children. For schools, the requirements of the relevant accident insurer and the school administration apply.
Is the course also suitable for parents?
Yes. The content on emergencies in infants and children is just as useful for parents, grandparents and babysitters.
Matching service: In-house training from Pandemedics – quote within 2 hours on working days.
Keep reading
First aiders in the workplace: required number, costs and refresher training
How many first aiders a business needs, who pays for the training and how often refresher training is required – under DGUV Vorschrift 1, with examples.
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How the first aid course for a driving licence works: 9 teaching units in one day, content, costs, certificate and tips for the course day.
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Occupational medics: when they are mandatory – including on construction sites
From 1,500 insured persons, from 250 where there are special hazards, and on construction sites from 100 employees: when an occupational medic is required.
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Tell us briefly what you are planning – on working days you will have a binding quote within 2 hours.