Nanny Diaries: CPR is a Must!

Nanny Diaries: CPR is a Must!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

filed under: health

Mary Poppins: I recently renewed my CPR + First Aid certification, and with the recent news of Billy Bob Thornton's daughter's tragic babysitting experience, I am so glad that I did.

In fact, I would say that any parent that does not require it of their childcare provider is a fool. Now yes, it is expensive, and it does take up 4-8 hours of the day, but come on, people! It is the safety of your child! Who knows what could happen on any given day?

I'm not saying that I am totally equipped to save a child's life; I am not a medical professional of any kind. What I am saying is that CPR training is a way for you and your nanny or babysitter to be totally aware of safety precautions.

For example, if your child knocks their head, with my CPR training I know that there are certain things I need to be looking for in the child's behavior. I also know that I always, always, always have to alert the parents because something might happen after I leave that could be detrimental to the child.

Obviously, I cannot treat most mishaps, but I am more aware of the dangers that could come out of them. The most important thing that comes out of CPR training is the knowledge that in many cases, you are not aware of the bigger risks and dangers that can happen even after an accident -- you must always be aware and cautious.

Kids like to do dangerous things and push their limits, so please make sure that the people watching your kids know what to do in an emergency situation! It will never stop events from happening, but in the end, it could save your kid's life.

Mary Poppins is a nanny/babysitter who is not afraid to tell parents what is really going on with their kids. With over eight years of experience, Mary Poppins offers fresh commentary on issues that many families are facing today. You may not like what she says, but you recognize the truth in it.

filed under: health

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I completely agree. I think that even parents should have to take basic CPR and First Aid. It is so important to have a background when you are around children.

- momof4

Posted 07/11/09 08:51 PM

Just so you know, a licensed childcare provider in the state of California is required to have Infant CPR and First Aid training before they can even be licensed, and they must renew yearly and bi-yearly, respectively.

- Rhea

Posted 07/12/09 02:27 AM

Great article. I agree with your points. CPR and First Aid Training should not be taken lightly. I have www.emergencyuniversity.com send me email reminders every year to make sure my certification does not lapse.

- Janet Sandstrom

Posted 07/13/09 01:47 PM

I agree, I think CPR Is an absolute must for babysitters. Personally, I would never want to leave my child who isn’t able to provide basic care to my child. It gives parents a sound mind to know that they are leaving their children in capable hands. Even from basic skills like helping choking children, CPR and First Aid certification is a must. I would never leave my children with anyone who isn’t certified. It is such a wonderful thing to have and provides you with so many useful skills for those worst-case scenarios.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/14/09 09:06 AM