As you prepare to welcome your pēpi, you and your whānau may wish to consider completing a first aid course that covers babies and young children. CPR and first-aid are important skills for everyone.

Knowing how to respond if your pēpi or child is choking, having difficulty breathing or needs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help you feel more confident and prepared if an emergency occurs. Courses may cover how to know when a baby needs urgent care, CPR technique, breathing and choking rescue, as well as what to do for allergic reactions, febrile convulsions, burns, bleeding and broken bones.

There are differences between first aid techniques for babies and children and those for adults, so look for a recognised first aid course that includes practical training in infant and child CPR and choking. Courses designed specifically for whānau are widely available, both in person and online. In person courses provide opportunities for practical hands on learning.

As well as providing in person courses about CPR, Whānau Āwhina Plunket also provides information about CPR on line which covers when to do CPR, videos of how to perform CPR on infants and children, and the DR’S ABCD assessment of an unresponsive baby or child who is not breathing normally – https://www.plunket.org.nz/child-health-concerns-and-symptoms/injuries-and-emergencies/cpr/

Whānau Āwhina Plunket also provide information for parents and whānau about prevent accidents and injuries in the home, including grazes and cuts, burns, poisoning, choking, and broken bones. https://www.plunket.org.nz/child-health-concerns-and-symptoms/injuries-and-emergencies/

The Well Child Tamariki Ora service is for all children/tamariki and families/whānau in Aotearoa NZ and all parents of new babies will receive this book. The Tamariki Ora Well Child Health Book contains important information about emergencies and first aid.

There is further emergency information on the Kids Health Haurora Taitamariki website – https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/emergencies/emergencies-cpr

Courses provided by St John for parents and caregivers – https://buy.stjohn.org.nz/first-aid-training/public-courses/first-aid/caring-for-kids-essential-first-aid-skills/#More%20Information

Courses provided by NZ Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.nz/first-aid/our-courses/first-aid-for-parents-and-caregivers