As an early childhood educator or daycare provider, you already have a full load of certifications and accreditations that you need to complete just to open your doors or get a job, much less do the actual work. However, if CPR certification is not already a requirement in your area, you should strongly consider obtaining it anyway.

The reason is simple: You can save the life of a child. Parents leave children in your care because you are a professional provider and they have confidence that you will take great care of their kids. CPR certification is one of those components that can give parents extra confidence in your abilities. You want to provide the safest environment for children to learn and play and knowing CPR helps provide that safety.

Even if a child falls in a pool of water or suffers from a condition that would require CPR in dire situations, you will be held responsible for what happens regardless of whether it was your fault or not. Word of mouth is priceless in the child care industry and that is not the kind of reputation you want people to be talking about.

On the flip side, parents will be forever grateful if you used CPR successfully in a life-threatening situation and will spread the word to their friends and family. This is why CPR certification is so important for early childhood educators.

What is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and it is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions. When a child or an adult has stopped breathing, CPR can help restore circulation. Otherwise the brain will not receive enough oxygen-rich blood and can be fatal or cause permanent damage if not addressed in less than 8 minutes.

The first known instance of someone using CPR was in 1891, and the method has been perfected since then. Although mouth-to-mouth breathing is commonly associated with CPR, it is not always recommended now as it does not seem to improve survival rates. The chest compressions are the important part, but if you do it incorrectly, you can break ribs or cause other irreparable damage. This is why the training and CPR certification are so important. The treatment should not cause more damage than the problem.

Here are a few conditions that CPR can help save a life:

• Drowning
• Cardiac arrest
• Suspected SIDS
• Suffocation
• Smoke inhalation
• Electrocution

Just remember to have someone call 911 while you perform CPR to improve the victim’s chances of survival.

Where to Find CPR Certification Classes

The American Red Cross is one of the top providers of CPR classes in the U.S., often with multiple classes per month that you can take advantage of when you have the time. The cost is often about $100, depending on where you live.

You can also take the course online, but practicing on the CPR mannequin and in-person instruction is really the better option for learning if you can manage it. CPR certificates require renewal every year or two, so if you take the first one in person and the future ones online, you may be able to save money while getting a better experience up front.