Nanny First Aid and CPR in Sydney: What Parents Should Check

When you hire a nanny, you're trusting them with your children's safety. Most days are full of play, meals and school runs. But if a child chokes, has an allergic reaction or takes a bad fall, what happens in the first few minutes matters most.

That's why up-to-date first aid and CPR is one of the most important things to check before a nanny starts in your home.

Why first aid matters so much for nannies

A nanny is often the only adult with your child for hours at a time. There's no colleague down the hall and no nurse on site. If something goes wrong, they need to know exactly what to do, and do it calmly.

Good nanny first aid training covers the emergencies most likely with young children, like:

• choking

• allergic reactions and anaphylaxis

• asthma attacks

• burns, cuts and falls

• head injuries

• poisoning and drowning

Which first aid course should a nanny have?

Look for HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting. It's the first aid course designed for people who care for children, including childcare educators.

It includes:

• CPR, including on babies

• what to do in an asthma attack

• how to use an adrenaline injector (like an EpiPen) for anaphylaxis

• the injuries and illnesses most common in young children

At the end, the nanny receives a nationally recognised certificate, called a Statement of Attainment, showing the course name and the date.

How often should first aid and CPR be renewed?

• CPR: every year. CPR skills fade quickly, so refreshing every 12 months is the standard.

• First aid: every three years.

These are the same standards childcare services in Australia must meet. We think nannies should meet them too.

What to check before your nanny starts

1. Ask to see the certificate. Check the course name and the date it was done.

2. Check the CPR date. It should be within the last 12 months.

3. Check the first aid date. It should be within the last three years.

4. Talk through your child's needs. If your child has allergies or asthma, show your nanny their action plan and where the medicine is kept.

5. Ask a "what if" question. For example: "What would you do if my toddler started choking?" A calm, clear answer tells you a lot.

Help your nanny be ready at home

• Keep a stocked first aid kit somewhere easy to find.

• Put your address and emergency numbers on the fridge (000 for emergencies).

• Write down any medical conditions, allergies and medicines.

• Let your nanny know where the nearest hospital is.

For nannies: keep your certificates current

If you're a nanny, keep your first aid and CPR up to date, and keep a copy of your certificates on your phone. Families will ask, and agencies check.

Looking for a first aid course for nannies in Sydney? Many training providers run HLTAID012 as a one-day childcare first aid course. It covers the emergencies you're most likely to face with children.

How Nanny Nest checks

Every nanny we introduce has current first aid and CPR, and we check the dates on their certificates ourselves, along with their Working With Children Check and police check.

Comparing agencies? Here are 10 questions to ask a nanny agency.

Looking for a nanny you can trust? Start your nanny search – we'd love to help.