Columbus Business Daily

What type of first aid are teachers taught?

what kind of first aid do teachers have to be taught. Is it different for different types of teachers. e.g. gym teachers? do you have any stories of a teacher having to use first aid on a hurt or sick student. please answer and let me know your stories...thanks!!

Public Comments

1. I'm pretty sure it depends on what state the teacher's in. My guess would be they must know CPR and then just basic first aid, what to do until medical help can be obtained, since all schools have at least one nurse. The teacher wouldn't be required to know everything; they just need to be able to get the child to the nurse or get the nurse to the child; the nurse would then take over and the teacher could phone 911 if the situation was beyond the nurse's abilities.
2. In order to be certified in Washington State, I had to complete recognized (in my case, Red Cross) CPR (Adult only), First Aid and Blood Borne Pathogens courses. All students in the Education program with me attended the same classes, regardless of what subject they taught. The First Aid portion of the class taught us how to respond to first aid emergencies until medical help could be reached: how to bandage open wounds, how to bandage a wound with impalement, how to splint a broken bone, how to respond to head injury, how not to move a kid who just fell from the top of the monkey bars, etc. I
3. It will depend on the state. Most require Child & Infant CPR along with basic 1st Aid. Many also do require extra training for certain groups. For example in NYS all teachers must have Adult, Child, & Infant CPR/AED plus basic 1st Aid. However gym teachers and coaches must take a more advanced course. The Red Cross has state approved courses for each one. - David