Thinking of enrolling in child first aid courses? Here are our top picks available to you in Canterbury.
When it comes to the safety of our little ones, it pays to be prepared. Learning infant and child first aid (even the basics) can not only help potentially save a life but also advocate for your family. Read on for in-person and online child first aid courses available in Canterbury –– there are a few that are free to attend, too.
Read more: After the Birth: Postpartum Support Services in Christchurch
Child first aid courses and resources:
New Zealand Red Cross: First Aid For Young Children
Cost: $70
Commitment: 4 hours of in-person training.
Ideal for: Those responsible for young children, including home-based educators and care services. It is also suitable for parents, grandparents, or anyone interested in childcare or babysitting.
More info here.
St John: Child First Aid Course
Cost: $75 (certification valid for 2 years)
Commitment: 4.5 hours of in-person training.
Ideal for: Those looking after children in their own home, or needing to renew their Child First Aid certificate.
More info here.
Parents Centre Aotearoa: First Aid for Children and Babies
Cost: Online: $45 (for two people)
Commitment: Online: There are 1.5 to 2 hours of content including a Q&A.
Ideal for: Parents and caregivers. The course gives you the basic CPR and health knowledge to care for your child. These courses are held online or face-to-face at specific locations (check their website for upcoming in-person courses nearby).
More info here.
PIPS: Infant + Child Choking and CPR
Cost: Free (in collaboration with the Red Cross). Classes only run once per month, so be sure to register.
Commitment: 1.5 hours
Ideal for: Caregivers who want to have the confidence of knowing what to do in an emergency.
More info here. Take a look at the events tab on their Facebook page.
Meditrain: Comprehensive Childcare First Aid
Cost: $220
Commitment: A 1-day course; 8 hours of practical and 4 hours of self-study.
Ideal for: Those who may need to administer first aid at work, and those looking for in-depth knowledge in keeping your family and community safe.
More info here.
Plunket: CPR for Caregivers
Cost: Free (online)
Commitment: 20 minutes.
Ideal for: Those who want to learn the basics of lifesaving CPR but can’t commit to long courses. Plunket also runs $10 courses at local centres, so be on the look out for new events.
More info here.
Little Beat: Child and Infant First Aid
Cost: Private Online Session: $150 for up to 2 people (and $50 per additional person if friends or family want to join); Self-paced Online Session: $50
Commitment: Private Online: 2 hours; Self-paced online: 1 hour (includes a 30-minute follow-up Zoom call to be booked after the session).
Ideal for: Empowering parents and family, but due to the time and nature of the session it is not appropriate for those needing workplace first aid certification.
More info here.
Not able to commit to a course? These Instagram pages post helpful content around child first aid.
